About the Equality Act 2010
The Equality Act gives the UK a single Act of Parliament, requiring equal treatment in access to employment as well as private and public services, regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, maternity or pregnancy, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation.
The Equality Act aims to simplify the law by bringing together several pieces of anti-discrimination legislation. It replaces the following employment legislation:
- Equal Pay Act 1970
- Sex Discrimination Act 1975
- Race Relations Act 1976
- Disability Discrimination Act 1995
- Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003
- Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003
- Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006
- Equality Act 2006, Part 2
- Equality Act (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2007
The employment law implications of the new Act are currently being considered by the NHS Staff Council and any necessary changes will be reflected in the national terms and conditions handbook in due course.
We continue to represent NHS employers' views on a number of national forums that have been set up to develop the details of the Act, including the Equalities and Human Rights Commission (EHRC), Government Equalities Office (GEO), Care Quality Commission (CQC) and the Department of Health.