The Equality Act 2010
Friday, 1st October 2010
On 8th April the Equality Bill received Royal Assent and became the Equality Act 2010. Implementation starts from 1 October 2010.
The first wave of implementation of the Equality Act is expected to go ahead to the planned October timetable. This will pave the way for the implementation of landmark provisions to protect disabled people from discrimination and to tackle the gender pay gap.
The Act brings disability, sex, race and other grounds of discrimination within one piece of legislation, and also introduces a number of reforms. The rationale behind the changes is to make it easier for businesses to know exactly what their responsibilities are so as to ensure businesses are compliant with all aspects of equality law. (The Act does not apply to Northern Ireland).
Now is a good time to review documents such as pre-employment questionnaires you may use and ask job candidates to complete (as the Act prohibits employers from asking questions about health before offering a candidate a post.) By conducting a review now Businesses can ensure that all documentation is complaint and relevant members of staff should be briefed about the legislation.
The Act also includes a provision to make regulations requiring employers with at least 250 employees to publish information relating to the differences in pay between men and women (expected to come into effect in 2013).
The Equality Act 2010 can be viewed on the Office of Public Sector Information (OPSI) website.
http://www.opsi.gov.uk/acts/acts2010/ukpga_20100015_en_1
For more information about the introduction of the Single Equality Act please contact Neil Largan, Head of Dispute Resolution at Crombie Wilkinson Solicitors, on 01904 624185.
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