Acas publishes Equality Act guide for employers
Acas have published a short guide to the Equality Act 2010 for employers summarising the key changes
the Act will introduce, as well the provisions that will remain the same, and
providing examples of unlawful discrimination, victimisation and harassment.
As we reported in the July 2010 edition, the main
employment provisions of the Equality Act 2010 are due to come into force in
October 2010. Acas has published a short guide, The Equality
Act – What’s new for employers?, highlighting the changes and confirming
the provisions which will remain unaltered.
The guide contains a useful table detailing the
main changes, describes each unlawful act and explains how the new provisions
differ from existing legislation. Acas recommends that employers review their
policies and practices to ensure they are compliant with the new legislation.
While this short guide provides helpful introduction to the Act, employers
would be well advised to seek specialist advice before reviewing policies,
etc., since some new provisions in the Act are not covered, e.g. combined
discrimination: dual characteristics in S.14.
August 2010
This provides summary information and comment on the subject areas covered. Where employment tribunal and appellate court cases are reported, the information does not set out all of the facts, the legal arguments presented and the judgments made in every aspect of the case. Employment law is subject to constant change either by statute or by interpretation by the courts. While every care has been taken in compiling this information, we cannot be held responsible for any errors or omissions. Specialist legal advice must be taken on any legal issues that may arise before embarking upon any formal course of action.