Equality Act – 10 years later

The Equality Act 2010 was designed to simplify and strengthen protection from discrimination, and support progress towards equality.

There is no doubt the Act has played a key role in protecting employees from discrimination over the last 10 years. Countless tribunal cases have been based on its provisions, covering all manner of issues, from single instances of harassment or company-wide discrimination to the abolition of tribunal fees.

In addition, it has created frameworks designed to highlight and address inequalities, such as the creation of gender pay gap reporting obligations.

As it reaches its 10^th anniversary, the Act is arguably more relevant today than when first enacted with behaviours and values being constantly challenged. Discrimination cases continue to pour into the tribunal, with recent decisions including the extension of protection to gender fluid people and accepting ethical veganism as a protected belief. The Act appears set to continue in this central role, with major equal pay cases due to be determined in the coming year and the impact of COVID-19 adversely affecting many protected groups.