Prevent discrimination and value diversity
Introduction
Preventing discrimination improves your chances of recruiting the best person for the job and getting the best performance from all those who work for you. However, unlawful discrimination discredits you as a business and can be very costly.
It is unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of:
- sex, including pregnancy and maternity
- marital status, including civil partnership status
- gender reassignment
- a person's disability
- race
- age
- sexual orientation
- religion/belief
- trade union membership or non-membership
- status as a fixed-term or part-time worker
This guide tells you what you must know about the law on discrimination and advises on best practice.
Subjects covered in this guide
- Introduction
- Common areas of discrimination law
- Discrimination during recruitment
- Sex discrimination
- Equal pay and conditions
- Age discrimination
- Discrimination against disabled people
- Discrimination on the grounds of race
- Discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief
- Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation
- Discrimination over membership or non-membership of unions
- Discrimination in day-to-day working practices
- Equality and contracting with the public sector

Acas Equality Direct Helpline
0845 600 3444
EHRC Helpline - England
0845 604 6610
EHRC Textphone - England
0845 604 6620
Equality and Human Rights Commission Textphone - Wales
0845 604 8820
Equality and Human Rights Commission Textphone - Scotland
0845 604 5520

Actions
- Discrimination law introduction on the Equality and Human Rights Commission website - Opens in a new window
- Download a report on improving business performance through diversity from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development website (PDF, 268K) - Opens in a new window
- View local and national events linked to this topic



