The Equality Act 2004

Equality Act 2004

The Equality Act 2004 was signed into law on 19^th July. It broadens the scope of claims based on unequal treatment in the workplace and elsewhere on the ground of age, gender, disability, race etc. In particular it provides as follows:-

A person employed in another person’s home will henceforth be covered by the equality legislation.
Setting a minimum age of greater than 18 years for job applicants is now deemed discriminatory.
The self-employed and partners now have rights under the employment equality legislation.
The definition of what constitutes sexual harassment has been broadened.
An employer must provide facilities for disabled employees unless the cost to him would be unreasonable given his means.
Where there are reasonable grounds for delay in bringing a claim, the time for bringing it may be extended to 12 months, instead of 6 (previously there had to be exceptional grounds).