The protected characteristics are:
- age
- disability
- gender reassignment
- marriage and civil partnership
- pregnancy and maternity
- race
- religion or belief
- sex
- sexual orientation
Prohibited conduct
Under the Equality Act 2010 the following are unlawful prohibited acts:
- direct discrimination including due to perception
- indirect discrimination
- discrimination arising out of a person’s disability
- failure to make reasonable adjustments
- harassment
- victimisation
Public Sector Equality Duty
Public bodies, such as the council, are subject to the Public Sector Equality Duty. Accordingly, when carrying out their functions they must have due regard for the need to:
- eliminate unlawful discrimination, harassment and victimisation and other conduct prohibited by the act
- advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who don’t
- foster good relations between people who share a protected characteristic and those who don’t
Additionally, they must carry out some specific duties, namely to:
- publish gender pay gap information annually
- publish information annually to demonstrate they are meeting the duties
- publish any equality objectives
More detailed information about equalities legislation is available from the Equality and Human Rights Commission