Equality at Work

Recently Introduced

1 January 2024 – The Equality Act 2010 (Amendment) Regulations 2023 came into effect and among other changes redefined disability in relation to occupation/employment.

26 October 2024 – The Worker Protection (Amendment of Equality Act 2010) Act 2023, provides a  duty to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace, including from third parties.

16 April 2025 – The UK Supreme Court has ruled that the legal definition of a woman should be based on biological sex when it is used in the provisions of the Equality Act 2010. 

25 April 2025 – The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) has published an interim update on the practical implications of the UK Supreme Court judgement in For Women Scotland v The Scottish Ministers. More detailed guidance should be provided by the end of June.

Announced

Awaiting further details

• The Employment Rights Bill 2024-25 was introduced on 10 October 2024 but is yet to be ratified,  including:

  • Gender Pay Gap: Reporting to be extended to include outsourced workers
  • Equality Action Plans: Large employers (250+ employees) will be required to develop, publish and implement action plans to close their gender pay gap and Menopause. Setting out how to address gender pay gap issues and support employees going through the menopause.
  • Protection from harassment: It is proposed to further strengthen this legal duty by requiring employers to take all reasonable preventative steps

  The  Draft Equality (Race and Disability) Bill was announced in the King’s Speech to be published in draft, including:

  • Equal Pay: The full right to equal pay for ethnic minorities and disabled people.
  • Mandatory ethnicity and disability pay reporting: For employers with 250+ employees and a requirement to publish ethnicity and disability pay gaps

  The ‘Plan to Make Work Pay’ outlined the Government’s future intentions, including:

  • Terminal Illness: encouragement for employers and trade unions to negotiate signing up to the Dying To Work Charter – a charter with best practice for employing workers with terminal illness.

Implemented

Implementation dates announced – time to prepare

• Watch this space!

Content will be added as the changes are introduced, so keep checking back!