With the recent passage of the new Equality Act, legislation from the last half century concerning fairness and equality has been streamlined from nine acts into one. The Act will cover equality on the grounds of race, gender, sexual orientation, religion and belief, disability, caring responsibilities and age. It comes into force in October this year.

The Act seeks to harmonise the rights which already exist, as well as widening the scope of the law in certain areas. If, for example, you apply for a job, your prospective employer will be restricted as to the questions that can be asked about your health and disability before deciding whether to offer employment to you. The Act also gives the Employment Tribunal much wider powers to make recommendations to organisations which have broken equality laws which should see organisations improve their treatment of individuals and help to reduce discrimination and inequality.

Although we have protection for equal treatment enshrined in law, there are unfortunately circumstances in which discrimination does occur. If you have been affected and believe you have not been offered equal treatment by your employer, then you may be able make a claim against your employer..

- Rebecca