St Helens and Knowsley Teaching HospitalsNHS Trust

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• location:
• About Us
• Equality & Human Rights
• The Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 (the Act) came into force on 1 October 2010.

The Act is intended to simplify, harmonise and strengthen the old discrimination legislation. The following will be repealed in their entirety:

· Equal Pay Act 1970,

· Sex Discrimination Act 1975,

· Race Relations Act 1976,

· Disability Discrimination Act 1995.

Much of the following will also be replaced:

· Equality Act 2006,

· Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003,

· Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003,

· Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006, and

· Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007.

The Act introduces the new terminology of “protected characteristics” to which it then applies in a consistent way the traditional elements of direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, victimisation and harassment.

The protected characteristics are: - age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion or belief; sex; and sexual orientation.

Further information about the Act (including a range of “good practice” guides) can be obtained from the below links.

Equality and Human Rights Commission
www.equalityhumanrights.com/legal-and-policy/equality-act/

Government Equalities Office
www.equalities.gov.uk/equality_act_2010.aspx

Advisory Conciliation and Arbitration Service
www.acas.org.uk/index.aspx?articleid=3017

You may also contact Annette Craghill, Patient & Workforce Equality Lead
on 0151 478 7609 or email annette.craghill@sthk.nhs.uk