The Equality Act

In October 2010, the Equality act became law and it has been updated and consolidated other acts like the Race relations Act 1976 and the Disability and discrimination Act 1995.
The employers’ obligations remain the same, but now the act shows transparency and ensures consistency in what employers and employees need to know where their liabilities and obligations stand and makes the workplace a fairer environment.
The Equality Act covers, age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion, belief, sex, sexual orientation, marriage, civil partnerships, pregnancy and maternity. These are commonly known as the ‘protected characteristics’ but the act also strengthens other protections and characteristics which were not in the previous laws

Recently, many companies are aiming for and coming up with solutions to create and promote an inclusive policy within their workplace, which, in the long run, will allow the company or organisation to maximise productivity, attract new and up and coming talent which in turn, increases employee commitment. It is proven that an organisation’s action in equality, diversification, and human rights and issues can have a massive impact upon their brand reputation, so therefore inclusion is a no brainer and makes good business sense.
Inclusive workplaces that know and understand the needs of their employees, make the employees feel valued, respected and ‘included’. Organisations have a great success in retaining the staff and with having a range of policies and facilities that allow the employees to balance work and other aspects of their lives, has a major positive impact on job satisfaction, productivity and job commitment. With the Inclusions, diversities and equalities implemented within the organisation, it also allows potential to reach further into different sections of various communities and thus can possibly appeal to a wider customer and supplier base. This can be achieved by realising then embracing and maximising all the diverse skills, experience and knowledge with which the staff and employees