Taking PRIDE in equality

As you know at Radshaw Solicitors, we place significant importance on equality and with this month being host to the LGBTQ+ Pride event, we thought we would focus on equality in employment and specifically The Equality Act 2010.

Despite the act protecting the LGBTQ+ community against discrimination in the workplace, statistics still show that there are feelings of being unsupported at work, especially when faced with bullying.

Here’s some insight into the law, what it means for employers and some positive steps we can all take to be inclusive:

The purpose of The Equality Act 2010

The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. It covers certain protected characteristics, such as age, disability and importantly for our blog this month, sexual orientation and gender reassignment.

The legislation sets out the different ways in which it’s unlawful to treat someone and the different forms that discrimination can take.

Why it’s imperative to have equality in our workplaces

Every employer should be working towards an inclusive and safe environment for everyone. Naturally this promotes a healthy culture and can prevent legal issues arising. It’s the responsibility of the company to create equal opportunity and making sure that the needs of individuals are recognised to foster equity.

Our top advice for employers

All employers have a duty to protect people and not discriminate against employees (current and potential) based on their sexual orientation or gender. Here are some examples of how you can promote equality in your organisation:

• Ensure you have clear policies and procedures in place that are regularly reviewed.
• Educate your teams on discrimination and what bullying might look like.
• If you receive a discrimination complaint, take it seriously from the outset and follow the right procedure.
• Make sure your employees know that this workplace is a discrimination free company and respect for everyone is something that is promoted.
• Ensure training is given and regular communication campaigns that promote inclusivity.

There are many different resources available to support you online, however if you need to speak to an experienced employment lawyer, get in touch with the team today.