Equality and diversity legal duties
Equality means treating people fairly, to value and respect them regardless of their natural characteristics. Diversity is about creating a culture which values individual differences and variety for the benefit of society, individuals and organisations.
Legal duties
Fairness in the workplace is a vital part of a successful business or public body. It is supported by the Equality Act 2010 (external site) and the Human Rights Act (external site). It also makes good business sense for an organisation.
These legal frameworks are in place to ensure all workers are treated equally and given the same opportunities regardless of their:
- age
- sex
- race
- disability
- religion or belief
- sexual orientation
- gender reassignment
- pregnancy and maternity
- marriage and civil partnership
It is important to ensure no one is discriminated against:
- during recruitment
- during employment
- in relation to pay
You must ensure you do not have policies or procedures that disadvantage one group more than another.
Find out more
The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) website provides further information to help you understand what diversity means for your workplace and how an effective diversity strategy can support your business.