The main change of legislation that has recently come into force is the equality act 2010, it became law in October 2010 and it replaced previous legislation1;
• Equal Pay Act 1970
• Sex Discrimination Act 1975
• Race Relations Act 1976
• Disability Discrimination Act 1995
• Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003 • the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 • the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006
• Equality Act 2006, Part 2
• Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007
The Equality act 2010 provides a further effective legal framework that as an employer we must adhere to this is to prevent discrimination according to ACAS. The act has brought together consistency in making the work place a fair environment. There are a lot of crucial changes and new principles that it introduces, firstly it introduces protected “characteristics” ;
• age
• disability
• gender reassignment
• race
• religion OR belief
• sex
• sexual orientation
• marriage or civil partnership
• pregnancy or maternity
Extended changes include new principles like associative discrimination, this is where someone is discriminated against because they associate with someone with a protected characteristic. Indirect discrimination and third party harassment has been introduced where if an employer is liable for other people’s action even if it is not them doing it. If an Affinity employee discriminated against either a service user or a another staff member
The major piece of legislation in the UK that impacts on staff recruitment and selection is The Equality Act of 2010. This statute consolidated nine separate pieces of anti-discrimination legislation into a single Act these were
| in addition to age, under the Equality Act people cannot be discriminated against as a result of any of the other ‘protected characteristics’. These are: disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Legislation by state and federal arms of government has made discrimination in workplaces illegal. This piece of legislation goes further to stipulate the rights and responsibilities of both the subordinates and their employers in the workplace. This legislation aims to bring sanity in the workplace by ensuring that both groups are accountable.
I am going to write about 4 legislations, these are the Sex Discrimination Act 1975, the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) 1995, the Human Rights Act 1998 and the Age Discrimination Act 2006.
1. Explain how legislation and codes of practice relating to equality, diversity and discrimination apply to own work role
Prevent discrimination: support equality – This sector of the act explains where discrimination is most likely to occur in the workplace and how to stop it happening
This act applies for both men and women. It promotes that both men and women should be treated equally. For example, in transport, education, jobs etc. It promotes anti-discriminatory practice by making sure those men and women are treated equally, if this act applies didn’t exist, men and women may be deprived of certain choices. This act includes any discrimination against homosexual marriages or civil partnerships, any discrimination against pregnant women and maternity leave, also about equal pay for both men and women.
The Equality Act 2010 protects employees against discrimination the types of discrimination in the work place are unfair dismissal, pay/benefits, training and recruitment. Grounds of discrimination are age, disability, gender reassignment, marital/civil partnership, pregnancy/parenthood, race, religion/belief, sex and sexual orientation. If anyone feels they are being discriminated against they must talk to their manager or HR department. AC1.3: There are many organisations that have different responsibilities within equality.
Equality Act 2010 is the law that bands unfair treatment and helps achieve equal opportunities in the work place and wider society.
National Health Service and Community Care Act 1990; Disability Discrimination Act 2005; Equality Act 2010; Disability Equality Duty 2006. Procedures and Polices of the organisational kind are; Department of Health 2001.
The Equality Act (2010) is thought to be one of the most significant acts in promoting anti discriminatory behaviours by both employers and companies along with the rest of society. The Equality Act (2010) covers the Sex discrimination act, race relations act and also the disability discrimination and 6 other acts and regulation all in one and so this make it easier for everyone to understand their responsibilities and shows them how everyone is entitled to dignity and respect and gives individuals, greater protection from discrimination and to protect and also promote a fair and equal society (please see reference below).
In 1970, the Equal Pay Act was introduced. It requires employers to provide equal pay for equal work. The Sex Discrimination Act enforces fair recruitment policies. The European Equal Pay Directive and the Equal Treatment Directive are also in force.
Gender equality is a struggle that has existed for a long time. It was however after the Second World War that the struggle for gender equality picked up pace. In most
Treating employees fairly in relations to pay is important for both employee and employer. The Equal Pay Act 1970 was introduced to ensure that women and men are paid the same for the same role. Organisations that actively treat all employees the same in relation to pay promote retention of employees. Employees won’t be underpaid for the work they do in relation to a colleague in a similar role, employees won’t feel discriminated against thus performance of work isn’t effected. The
Infringement of people's rights because of their race, sex, age, marital status, sexual orientation is a common phenomenon. This phenomenon contradicts the eternal aspirations of humanity to freedom, equality, and justice. In labor relations, the most important rights that affected are the right to equal access to work, equal pay for equal work, equal chances of promotion, protection from unemployment, etc. Therefore, it is so important to talk about discrimination in labor relations, and not only talk, but look for ways to protect those categories of citizens who are discriminated against.