What is the Equality Act 2010 in simple terms?

Asked by: Royal Mills IV  |  Last update: February 5, 2026
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The Equality Act 2010 is a UK law that protects people from unfair treatment and discrimination in the workplace and wider society, combining previous laws into one, making it easier to understand. It bans discrimination based on nine "protected characteristics": age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation, ensuring everyone has equal opportunities and is treated fairly.

What are the main points of the Equality Act 2010?

The Equality Act 2010

It prohibits conduct and creates duties in relation to 'protected characteristics'. There are nine protected characteristics, listed in section 4 of the Act, ranging from age through to sexual orientation. The Act prohibits direct and indirect discrimination, and harassment and victimisation.

What are the 9 principles of the Equality Act 2010?

Under the Equality Act 2010, there are 9 protected characteristics which are; age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.

What are the 9 grounds of the Employment Equality Act?

The 9 grounds of discrimination in Ireland are gender, civil status, family status, sexual orientation, age, disability, race, religion, and membership in the Traveller community. What is the IHREC? The IHREC is the Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission.

What do you need to know about the Equality Act?

Specifically, it prohibits discrimination based on sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status in a wide variety of areas including public accommodations and facilities, education, federally funded programs, employment, housing, credit, and jury service.

An introduction to the Equality Act 2010

18 related questions found

What are the 4 types of discrimination under the Equality Act?

If you're disabled. If you're disabled under the Equality Act, you're protected from all the main types of discrimination - direct discrimination, indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation. You can check if you're disabled under the Equality Act.

What are the 4 types of equality?

The four main types of equality often discussed are Social Equality (equal rights/opportunities in society), Political Equality (equal participation in government), Economic Equality (fair access to resources/wealth), and Legal/Civil Equality (equal treatment and rights under the law), forming key dimensions for a just society, alongside concepts like equality of opportunity (level playing field) and outcome (similar results). 

What are 5 examples of unfair discrimination?

Five examples of unfair discrimination include being passed over for promotion due to race or gender (racial/gender bias), paying women less for the same job as men (unequal pay), denying reasonable accommodations for a disability (disability discrimination), harassing someone for their sexual orientation (sexual orientation discrimination), or retaliating against an employee for reporting harassment (retaliation). These actions unfairly disadvantage individuals based on protected traits rather than merit, violating laws like Title VII. 

What are 5 fair reasons for dismissal?

The five fair reasons for dismissal under UK employment law are Conduct, Capability/Qualifications, Redundancy, Breach of a Statutory Duty/Restriction, and Some Other Substantial Reason (SOSR), each requiring a fair process, like investigation, warnings, and consultation, to avoid unfair dismissal claims. These reasons cover employee behavior, inability to do the job (skill/health), role elimination, legal constraints, and other significant business needs. 

What are the three most important HR laws?

The three most crucial HR laws often cited are Title VII of the Civil Rights Act (anti-discrimination), the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) (wages/hours), and the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) (leave), forming pillars for fairness, pay, and work-life balance, though other laws like the ADA and OSHA are also fundamental for a comprehensive compliance strategy. 

What are the three general duties of the Equality Act 2010?

Public Sector Equality Duty

  • remove or minimise disadvantages suffered by people due to their relevant protected characteristics.
  • take steps to meet the different needs of people who share a relevant protected characteristic.
  • encourage participation in public life or any other activity by underrepresented groups.

What counts as discrimination at work?

Discrimination happens when an employer treats an employee or job applicant unfairly because of their race, color, religion, sex, national origin, age (40 or older), disability, or genetic information. EEOC laws do not cover all employers. Coverage is often based on the number of employees.

What are the 5 British values in the workplace?

The five British Values are democracy, the rule of law, individual liberty, and mutual respect for and tolerance of those with different faiths and beliefs and for those without faith.

What are the 7 main protected characteristics?

Protected characteristics

  • Age.
  • Disability.
  • Gender reassignment.
  • Marriage and civil partnership.
  • Pregnancy and maternity.
  • Race.
  • Religion or belief.
  • Sex.

How to prove discrimination?

Direct evidence is the best way to show that you experienced discrimination and can include verbal comments or statements written in memos, notes, emails, or other personal or professional communications.

What is the Equality Act 2010 for dummies?

The Equality Act 2010 is the law that protects you from discrimination. It also gives you the right to challenge discrimination. You're protected by the Equality Act if you have certain protected characteristics. Disability is one of these protected characteristics.

Can I be sacked without warning?

Yes, in the United States, you can typically be fired without warning, even immediately, because most employment is "at-will," meaning employers can end the relationship at any time, with or without cause, and without notice, unless you have a contract or union agreement stating otherwise. However, an employer cannot fire you for an illegal reason, such as discrimination (race, gender, disability, etc.) or retaliation for reporting illegal activities, even in an at-will state. 

What are 5 examples of serious misconduct?

Here are 7 examples classed as workplace misconduct

  • Theft. This may sound obvious, but theft isn't limited to financial fraud like embezzlement or money laundering. ...
  • Sexual harassment. ...
  • Abuse of power. ...
  • Falsifying documentation. ...
  • Health and safety breaches. ...
  • Damage to goods or property. ...
  • Drug and/or alcohol use.

On what grounds can an employee be dismissed?

Examples of serious misconduct, subject to the rule that each case should be judged on its merits, are gross dishonesty or willful damage to the property of the employer, willful endangering of the safety of others physical assault on the employer, a fellow employee, client or customer and gross insubordination.

How to prove you are being treated unfairly at work?

To prove unfair treatment at work, you must meticulously document every incident (dates, times, people, details), gather evidence like emails, texts, performance reviews, and witness statements, review and compare company policies, and consider filing complaints with HR or the EEOC, noting that comparator evidence (how others were treated) is key, often requiring legal counsel to build a strong case. 

What is victimisation?

Victimisation is when someone is treated less favourably as a result of being involved with a discrimination or harassment complaint. Ways someone could be victimised include: being labelled a troublemaker. being left out. not being allowed to do something.

What is the most common discrimination claim?

The single most common form of direct discrimination is disability discrimination. More than 24,000 workers brought successful claims about employers mistreating them or denying them disability accommodations in 2020. 36.1% of all discrimination claims involve disability discrimination.

What is equality 5 lines?

Equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights and opportunities. Equality means each individual or group of people is given the same resources and opportunities, regardless of their circumstances.

What are the three rules of equality?

Three dimensions of equality are: Economic, Social and Political Equality. - Political equality means granting equal citizenship to all members of the state. Equal citizenship provides certain basic rights such as the right to vote, freedom of expression, movement and association and freedom of belief to everybody.

What is the most common form of equality?

Social equality refers to each individual's right to equal enjoyment of society and its many facets, such as equal access to job opportunities, education, and social activities. As a principle, social equality holds that no individual should be given priority over another based on their identity.