Equality, diversity, and inclusion legislation
The Equality Act
The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society.
It brought together over 116 pieces of legislation in a single Act, making it easier to understand the law and sets out the different ways in which it’s unlawful to treat someone.
The following are the 'protected characteristics' which the Equality Act makes it against the law to discriminate on:
- age
- being or becoming a transsexual person
- being married or in a civil partnership
- being pregnant or having a child
- disability
- race including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin
- religion, belief or lack of religion/belief
- sex
- sexual orientation
Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023
The Policy is in accordance with relevant equalities related legislation, in particular the Equality Act 2010 and The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023. As part of its responsibilities under the Act, the Council is subject to the public sector equality duty and so must have due regard to the need to:
- Eliminate discrimination, harassment, victimisation and any conduct that is prohibited by or under the Act
- Advance equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it
- Foster good relations between persons who share a relevant protected characteristic and persons who do not share it