Equality Bill
The Equality Bill, a law that aims to strengthen existing
anti-discrimination measures, is working its way through Parliament
and is set to become law during 2010.
Does this impact me?
If you employ people, yes it will.
The Bill will consolidate existing antidiscrimination
legislation, with several new measures aimed at achieving equality
of outcome. It has employment policy at its very heart. The areas
where the Equality Bill will have its biggest impact are:
- Companies that do business with the public sector. They will
have to prove they achieve equality in the workplace or are
actively taking steps to achieve it – or they will not be able to
do business with public sector customers
- Businesses that employ 250 people or more – these will have to
publish “pay audits” comparing their male and female workers
- Businesses with poor anti-discrimination policies and without
robust recruitment and performance measurement procedures. They
will not be able to show they are taking the necessary steps to
achieve equality in the workplace – and will find it more difficult
to defend tribunal claims
What do I need to do?
Prepare now:
- Ensure you have Equal Opportunities Policies in place and that
your managers operate in accordance with them – especially during
recruitment and promotion selection exercises
- Consider any circumstances in which you would make use of the
new power to positively discriminate – by preferring a minority
candidate to an equally well-qualified majority candidate
- Consider an Equality Audit, to highlight any
problem areas ahead of the Bill becoming law
More Information
Click here to view our Free
Equality Bill Information pack.
Please read legal information.