The Equality Act 2010 came into force from October 2010. The Act introduces new equalities legislation relating to employment, education, facilities, goods and services.
Equality Act 2010: Briefing
This briefing document has been designed for LSE staff, managers and service providers as a reference guide. It summarises the main provisions of the Act. The document can be viewed by clicking on the link below.
Equality Act 2010: What does it mean for LSE?| [PDF]
It should be noted that the Equality Act also introduces a new Public Sector Equality Duty, which came into force on 5th April 2011. The Equality Duty replaces the three previous duties on race, disability and gender, bringing them together into a single duty, and extends it to cover age, sexual orientation, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, and gender reassignment. Regulations outlining the specific duties of the public sector equality duty are out for consultation until 21st April, and should be introduced in July 2011. Guidance on how to implement these specific duties will be provided once they have been finalised.
Equality Act 2010: Timeframe
Equality Act provisions which came into force on 1 October 2010
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The basic framework of protection against direct and indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation in services and public functions; premises; work; education; associations, and transport.
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Changing the definition of gender reassignment, by removing the requirement for medical supervision.
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Levelling up protection for people discriminated against because they are perceived to have, or are associated with someone who has, a protected characteristic, so providing new protection for people like carers.
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Clearer protection for breastfeeding mothers;
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Applying the European definition of indirect discrimination to all protected characteristics.
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Extending protection from indirect discrimination to disability.
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Introducing a new concept of “discrimination arising from disability”, to replace protection under previous legislation lost as a result of a legal judgment.
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Applying the detriment model to victimisation protection (aligning with the approach in employment law).
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Harmonising the thresholds for the duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people.
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Extending protection from 3rd party harassment to all protected characteristics.
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Making it more difficult for disabled people to be unfairly screened out when applying for jobs, by restricting the circumstances in which employers can ask job applicants questions about disability or health.
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Allowing claims for direct gender pay discrimination where there is no actual comparator.
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Making pay secrecy clauses unenforceable.
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Extending protection in private clubs to sex, religion or belief, pregnancy and maternity, and gender reassignment.
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Introducing new powers for employment tribunals to make recommendations which benefit the wider workforce.
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Harmonising provisions allowing voluntary positive action.
Equality Act provisions which came into force in April 2011
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Positive action in recruitment and promotion
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Public sector Equality Duty
Equality Act provisions the Government is still considering
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Duty to make reasonable adjustments to common parts of leasehold and commonhold premises and common parts in Scotland
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Provisions relating to auxiliary aids in schools Diversity reporting by political parties
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Provisions about taxi accessibility
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Prohibition on age discrimination in services and public functions
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Family property
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Civil partnerships on religious premises
Ministers are considering how to implement these remaining provisions in the best way for business and for others with rights and responsibilities under the Act. Their decisions will be announced in due course.
Equality Act Provisions that the Government has decided not to take forward
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Socio-economic Duty on public bodies
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Gender pay gap reporting
More guidance
For more guidance on and resources for the Equality Act 2010, please visit -
The Equality Challenge Unit|
The Equality and Human Rights Commission|
The Government Equalities Office|
Or contact -
Equality.and.Diversity@lse.ac.uk|
Carolyn Solomon Pryce
c.solomon-pryce@lse.ac.uk|
Equality and Diversity Adviser
Asiya Islam
a.islam1@lse.ac.uk|
Equality and Diversity Assistant