Resources for Managers and Staff
THE EQUALITY ACT 2010
The Equality Act came into force from October 2010 providing a modern, single legal framework with clear, streamlined law to more effectively tackle disadvantage and discrimination.
Guidance can be found on the the
Equality and Human Rights Commission website: https://www.equalityhumanrights.com/en/equality-act.
ACAS website: ACAS Equality Act 2010 Guide for Employers
PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICS
There are 9 protected characteristics identified within the Equality Act 2010.
Equality and Human Rights Commission: Protected Characteristics
Age
Where this is referred to, it refers to a person belonging to a particular age (e.g. 44 year olds) or range of ages (e.g. 18 to 25 year olds).
ACAS Age and the Workplace Guide
NHS Employers Employing Young People Resources
Disability
A person has a disability if she or he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on that person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Equality and Human Rights Commission Disability Advice and Guidance
UHMBT Disability Network Page
How to Support People With Autism
Guide for line managers: Recruiting, managing and developing people with a disability or health condition
Dyslexia Resources
UHMBT Guide to Dyslexia in the Workplace (available for staff via UHMBT’s internal document library)
British Dyslexia Association
Dyslexia Action
Guide to Overcoming Dyslexia
Gender reassignment
The process of transitioning from one gender to another.
Stonewall
LGBT Foundation
UHMBT LGBT Network Page
ACAS: Avoiding gender reassignment discrimination in the workplace
Gender Identity Research and Education Society
Press For Change
UHMBT Transgender Care Policy (available for staff via UHMBT’s internal document library)
Marriage and civil partnership
Marriage is no longer restricted to a union between a man and a woman but now includes a marriage between a same-sex couple. Same-sex couples can also have their relationships legally recognised as 'civil partnerships'. Civil partners must not be treated less favourably than married couples (except where permitted by the Equality Act).
ACAS Guidance: Marriage and Civil Partnerships
Pregnancy and maternity
Pregnancy is the condition of being pregnant or expecting a baby. Maternity refers to the period after the birth, and is linked to maternity leave in the employment context.
Equality and Human Rights Commission: Pregnancy and Maternity in the Workplace
Race
Refers to the protected characteristic of Race. It refers to a group of people defined by their race, colour, and nationality (including citizenship) ethnic or national origins.
http://www.raceequalityfoundation.org.uk/
ACAS: Race Discrimination
BME Network Page
Workforce Race Equality Standard
Religion and belief
Religion has the meaning usually given to it but belief includes religious and philosophical beliefs including lack of belief (such as Atheism).
Generally, a belief should affect your life choices or the way you live for it to be included in the definition.
ACAS: Religion
National Faith guide
Sex
A man or a woman.
ACAS: Sex Discrimination
HSJ Women Leaders Network
Sexual orientation
Whether a person's sexual attraction is towards their own sex, the opposite sex or to both sexes.
Stonewall
LGBT Foundation
NHS Employers LGBT Equality in the Workplace Resources
ACAS
UHMBT LGBT Equality Standard
UHMBT Managers Guide
UHMBT Policies / Guidance are available for staff via the Trust’s internal document library and cannot be accessed externally at the current time.
