The Equality Act 2010 brought together earlier UK anti-discrimination laws into a single Act. It identifies nine "protected characteristics" — age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation — and makes it unlawful to discriminate, harass or victimise people on any of these grounds in employment, education, the provision of goods and services, premises, transport and the exercise of public functions.
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Employers and service providers must also make reasonable adjustments for disabled people. Cases under the Act are heard in the County Court (for service-related cases) or in employment tribunals (for workplace cases). Equal pay for men and women doing equal work is also covered.
You may be asked how many protected characteristics there are (nine), or which Act protects against discrimination at work.
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