The Equality Act came into force on 1 October 2010, bringing together over 116 separate pieces of legislation into one single Act. It provided a legal framework to protect the rights of individuals and advance equal opportunities for everyone, and at the same time, providing the UK with a discrimination law which protects individuals from unfair treatment and promotes a fair and more equal society.
The Equality Act 2010 legally protects people from discrimination in the workplace and in wider society. It replaced previous anti-discrimination laws with a single Act, making the law easier to understand and strengthening protection in some situations. It sets out the different ways in which it’s unlawful to treat someone. Equality is all about ensuring everyone has an equal opportunity and is not treated differently or discriminated against because of their characteristics.
