Law

What is my business obligated to do by law?

Employment Equality (Age) Regulations

The age regulations, implemented in October 2006, make it illegal to discriminate against an individual on the basis of age within the workplace. The legislation makes it unlawful to refuse employment, promotion or training to workers on the grounds of age and means that employers will be restricted in the way they recruit. For example, asking for a large amount of previous work experience or specifying a certain age range for a potential employee will be regarded as discriminatory practice.

Employers will also be unable to compel workers to retire before the age of 65 and will be required to consider an appeal from employees who are being retired but wish to continue to work.

Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations (2003)

These regulations make it unlawful to discriminate, harass, victimise or put individuals at a disadvantage in all areas of employment and vocational training on the basis of religion or philosophical belief. Employers are also not permitted to treat employers less favourably because of their religion or belief.

Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations (2003)

These regulations make it unlawful to discriminate, harass, victimise or put individuals at a disadvantage in all areas of employment and vocational training on the basis of their sexual orientation. Sexual orientation is defined as orientation towards persons of the same sex (lesbians and gay men), orientation towards persons of the opposite sex (heterosexual), orientation towards persons of the same sex and the opposite sex (bisexual).

Race Relations Act (1976) and Amendment (2000)

This legislation makes it illegal to discriminate against an individual on the basis of ethnicity. This covers skin colour, ethnicity, nationality or ethnic and national origin. The law also extends to those firms who have been awarded public sector contracts, who are also required to comply with requirements that are made of public sector organisations.

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