<!DOCTYPE html> <html class="govuk-template" lang="en">  <head><script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/bundle-playback.js?v=HxkREWBo" charset="utf-8"></script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/wombat.js?v=txqj7nKC" charset="utf-8"></script> <script>window.RufflePlayer=window.RufflePlayer||{};window.RufflePlayer.config={"autoplay":"on","unmuteOverlay":"hidden"};</script> <script type="text/javascript" src="/_static/js/ruffle/ruffle.js"></script> <script type="text/javascript"> __wm.init("https://web.archive.org/web"); __wm.wombat("https://www.gov.uk/employer-preventing-discrimination","20240420191340","https://web.archive.org/","web","/_static/", "1713640420"); </script> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/banner-styles.css?v=S1zqJCYt" /> <link rel="stylesheet" type="text/css" href="/_static/css/iconochive.css?v=3PDvdIFv" />  <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html; charset=UTF-8"> <meta property="og:description" content="Discrimination policy and equal opportunities in recruitment and in the workplace - age discrimination, disabled workers, gender reassignment, sex discrimination "> <meta property="og:title" content="Employers: preventing discrimination"> <meta property="og:url" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employer-preventing-discrimination"> <meta property="og:type" content="article"> <meta property="og:site_name" content="GOV.UK"> <meta name="twitter:card" content="summary"> <meta name="description" content="Discrimination policy and equal opportunities in recruitment and in the workplace - age discrimination, disabled workers, gender reassignment, sex discrimination "> <meta name="govuk:stepnavs" content="47bcdf4c-9df9-48ff-b1ad-2381ca819464,dc77c606-cc6b-49ac-9f40-b96959d02539"> <meta name="govuk:taxon-slugs" content="contract-working-hours,recruiting-hiring,recruiting-hiring,trade-unions"> <meta name="govuk:taxon-slug" content="contract-working-hours"> <meta name="govuk:taxon-ids" content="23a712ff-23b3-4f5a-83f1-44ac679fe615,c195d3e6-5924-4def-b1c2-24a685a0b210,55e8ea89-9ba8-4439-a703-7d26723a4ec0,5f1f5537-e9e6-488d-85f6-bd91327987ec"> <meta name="govuk:taxon-id" content="23a712ff-23b3-4f5a-83f1-44ac679fe615"> <meta name="govuk:themes" content="business-and-industry, work"> <meta name="govuk:analytics:organisations" content="<D1382><D10><D1198>"> <meta name="govuk:ga4-browse-topic" content="crime, justice and the law"> <meta name="govuk:primary-publishing-organisation" content="Government Digital Service"> <meta name="govuk:public-updated-at" content="2015-08-21T17:14:06Z"> <meta name="govuk:updated-at" content="2024-04-12T16:48:31Z"> <meta name="govuk:first-published-at" content="2012-07-03T14:52:53Z"> <meta name="govuk:content-id" content="a5669f74-406d-46bf-9e0f-13aad618862e"> <meta name="govuk:schema-name" content="guide"> <meta name="govuk:rendering-app" content="government-frontend"> <meta name="govuk:publishing-app" content="publisher"> <meta name="govuk:format" content="guide"> <meta charset="utf-8"> <title lang="en"> Employers: preventing discrimination: Overview - GOV.UK </title> <script src="/web/20240420191340js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk_publishing_components/vendor/lux/lux-measurer-505eef3e243b1d08ea7c4b945ebe1ae146d896db61366e415b30cc1bcd84cbdc.js" async="async"></script> <script src="/web/20240420191340js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk_publishing_components/rum-loader-a2b2738157db7766e56f9d9c65fbe46f261bcbe6c6ae8265669e7553e33221e8.js" async="async" data-lux-reporter-script="/assets/static/govuk_publishing_components/vendor/lux/lux-reporter-1baa7d3fd3f7b929e3865f8bb75fc0dfad6914e0ffda4b9012dc6464e0b8bbb4.js"></script> <meta name="govuk:components_gem_version" content="38.0.1"> <script src="/web/20240420191340js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk_publishing_components/load-analytics-aa8cd2cff479b673edf0c5e3c6ca890254b7f7034aa2ee093130dd49cb800b72.js"></script> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20240420191340cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/application-53744c45404cb48dc09740d5083b097ef1ecdca41e9cfded4a28632c358f5ec7.css" media="all">  <link rel="shortcut icon" href="/web/20240420191340im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/favicon-f54816fc15997bd42cd90e4c50b896a1fc098c0c32957d4e5effbfa9f9b35e53.ico" type="image/x-icon"> <link rel="mask-icon" href="/web/20240420191340im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-mask-icon-2fe351f48236280e721d129e412ba43b2f720a8d58ebb40d0a0165ac15f1122c.svg" color="#0b0c0c"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="180x180" href="/web/20240420191340im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-180x180-d2d7399ff2ba05372b6b2018cc67053e458a748cceea1a550d804dbec401e3ed.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="167x167" href="/web/20240420191340im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-167x167-fcbf4b210746141e7ccd4988af58bfb5a72491e80ebc88fd6a0f0dd846dbce8a.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" sizes="152x152" href="/web/20240420191340im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-152x152-5807f2166c2f8eb73f2004eea36253dd1876612fac983fda01a072ae9e30d182.png"> <link rel="apple-touch-icon" href="/web/20240420191340im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-apple-touch-icon-a0a3cc359818efa7776228f878cfca8fa585731a7b495a06615787ed4e9f7ee7.png"> <meta name="theme-color" content="#0b0c0c"> <meta name="viewport" content="width=device-width, initial-scale=1"> <meta http-equiv="X-UA-Compatible" content="IE=edge"> <meta property="og:image" content="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340im_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/govuk-opengraph-image-03837e1cec82f217cf32514635a13c879b8c400ae3b1c207c5744411658c7635.png"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20240420191340cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/application-ada6f31b924822a5b7a2a14468b28d25ddad3f368a0cdde1588e4cc214bd65ae.css" media="all"> <link rel="canonical" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employer-preventing-discrimination"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20240420191340cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/views/_guide-33eb8892294f17917d128ca0ef46d435b3bfe98c4a3eea23982b1756b6cc44b8.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20240420191340cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/components/_contents-list-5c1ed756f52fad42ef7baa3e771036cbdc76860ff579ea358eb8802d842ee878.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20240420191340cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/components/_govspeak-56845ce2c95bbb7fcc0cb7da0231b26b9ec2c25ee39a6347690e4480f8faffdf.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20240420191340cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/components/_previous-and-next-navigation-4a37ce06f44c3cc9220627998e3fdc9f2d5f73e1a68d9500d7a17e21a376482d.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20240420191340cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/components/_contextual-sidebar-fdf2b511d30a6368de9c0d2eb3e7cacbfd299d7af8a0280ed6220cf9b8a9db20.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20240420191340cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/components/_step-by-step-nav-related-6e695e7a3eaf1931ab299b284cd1fc6cd74f45d67c1288b4438d938c610c32b6.css"> <link rel="stylesheet" href="/web/20240420191340cs_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/components/_related-navigation-d4421aa576aa9811cda6f4f1288f12bb5f766a86c1d2a0c44602a0b1e10b7a36.css"> <meta name="govuk:rendering-application" content="government-frontend"> </head> <body class="gem-c-layout-for-public govuk-template__body"> <script nonce="NCkzFfgt1xm2lkJWkD8fRA=="> //<![CDATA[ document.body.className = ((document.body.className) ? document.body.className + ' js-enabled' : 'js-enabled'); //]]> </script> <div id="global-cookie-message" class="gem-c-cookie-banner govuk-clearfix govuk-cookie-banner js-banner-wrapper" data-module="cookie-banner" data-nosnippet role="region" aria-label="Cookies on GOV.UK" hidden> <div class="govuk-cookie-banner__message govuk-width-container"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <h2 class="govuk-cookie-banner__heading govuk-heading-m">Cookies on GOV.UK</h2> <div tabindex="-1" class="govuk-cookie-banner__content gem-c-cookie-banner__confirmation"> <span class="gem-c-cookie-banner__content"><p class="govuk-body">We use some essential cookies to make this website work.</p> <p class="govuk-body">We’d like to set additional cookies to understand how you use GOV.UK, remember your settings and improve government services.</p> <p class="govuk-body">We also use cookies set by other sites to help us deliver content from their services.</p></span> <p class="gem-c-cookie-banner__confirmation-message--accepted govuk-body" hidden data-ga4-cookie-banner data-module="ga4-link-tracker" data-ga4-track-links-only data-ga4-set-indexes data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"cookie banner","section":"You have accepted additional cookies"}">You have accepted additional cookies. <span class="gem-c-cookie-banner__confirmation-message">You can <a class="govuk-link" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Cookie banner settings clicked from confirmation" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/help/cookies">change your cookie settings</a> at any time.</span></p> <p class="gem-c-cookie-banner__confirmation-message--rejected govuk-body" hidden>You have rejected additional cookies. <span class="gem-c-cookie-banner__confirmation-message">You can <a class="govuk-link" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Cookie banner settings clicked from confirmation" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/help/cookies">change your cookie settings</a> at any time.</span></p> </div> </div> </div> <div class="js-confirmation-buttons govuk-button-group"> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit" data-module="gem-track-click" data-accept-cookies="true" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Cookie banner accepted" data-cookie-types="all">Accept additional cookies</button> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit" data-module="gem-track-click" data-reject-cookies="true" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Cookie banner rejected">Reject additional cookies</button> <a class="govuk-link" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/help/cookies">View cookies</a> </div> <div hidden class="js-hide-button govuk-button-group"> <button class="gem-c-cookie-banner__hide-button govuk-button" data-hide-cookie-banner="true" data-module="gem-track-click ga4-event-tracker" data-track-category="cookieBanner" data-track-action="Hide cookie banner" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"select_content","type":"cookie banner","action":"closed","section":"You have accepted additional cookies"}"> Hide this message </button> </div> </div> </div> <a class="gem-c-skip-link govuk-skip-link govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="govuk-skip-link" href="#content">Skip to main content</a> <header role="banner" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header" data-module="gem-track-click ga4-event-tracker ga4-link-tracker" data-track-links-only="" data-ga4-expandable=""> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__container govuk-clearfix"> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__header-logo"> <a class="govuk-header__link govuk-header__link--homepage" data-track-action="logoLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="https://www.gov.uk" data-track-dimension="GOV.UK" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","external":"false","text":"GOV.UK","section":"Logo","index_link":1,"index_section":0,"index_section_count":2,"index_total":1}" id="logo" aria-label="Go to the GOV.UK homepage" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/"> <span class="govuk-header__logotype">  <svg aria-hidden="true" class="govuk-header__logotype-crown gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__logotype-crown" height="30" width="32" focusable="false" viewbox="0 0 32 30" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg"> <path d="M22.6 10.4c-1 .4-2-.1-2.4-1-.4-.9.1-2 1-2.4.9-.4 2 .1 2.4 1s-.1 2-1 2.4m-5.9 6.7c-.9.4-2-.1-2.4-1-.4-.9.1-2 1-2.4.9-.4 2 .1 2.4 1s-.1 2-1 2.4m10.8-3.7c-1 .4-2-.1-2.4-1-.4-.9.1-2 1-2.4.9-.4 2 .1 2.4 1s0 2-1 2.4m3.3 4.8c-1 .4-2-.1-2.4-1-.4-.9.1-2 1-2.4.9-.4 2 .1 2.4 1s-.1 2-1 2.4M17 4.7l2.3 1.2V2.5l-2.3.7-.2-.2.9-3h-3.4l.9 3-.2.2c-.1.1-2.3-.7-2.3-.7v3.4L15 4.7c.1.1.1.2.2.2l-1.3 4c-.1.2-.1.4-.1.6 0 1.1.8 2 1.9 2.2h.7c1-.2 1.9-1.1 1.9-2.1 0-.2 0-.4-.1-.6l-1.3-4c-.1-.2 0-.2.1-.3m-7.6 5.7c.9.4 2-.1 2.4-1 .4-.9-.1-2-1-2.4-.9-.4-2 .1-2.4 1s0 2 1 2.4m-5 3c.9.4 2-.1 2.4-1 .4-.9-.1-2-1-2.4-.9-.4-2 .1-2.4 1s.1 2 1 2.4m-3.2 4.8c.9.4 2-.1 2.4-1 .4-.9-.1-2-1-2.4-.9-.4-2 .1-2.4 1s0 2 1 2.4m14.8 11c4.4 0 8.6.3 12.3.8 1.1-4.5 2.4-7 3.7-8.8l-2.5-.9c.2 1.3.3 1.9 0 2.7-.4-.4-.8-1.1-1.1-2.3l-1.2 4c.7-.5 1.3-.8 2-.9-1.1 2.5-2.6 3.1-3.5 3-1.1-.2-1.7-1.2-1.5-2.1.3-1.2 1.5-1.5 2.1-.1 1.1-2.3-.8-3-2-2.3 1.9-1.9 2.1-3.5.6-5.6-2.1 1.6-2.1 3.2-1.2 5.5-1.2-1.4-3.2-.6-2.5 1.6.9-1.4 2.1-.5 1.9.8-.2 1.1-1.7 2.1-3.5 1.9-2.7-.2-2.9-2.1-2.9-3.6.7-.1 1.9.5 2.9 1.9l.4-4.3c-1.1 1.1-2.1 1.4-3.2 1.4.4-1.2 2.1-3 2.1-3h-5.4s1.7 1.9 2.1 3c-1.1 0-2.1-.2-3.2-1.4l.4 4.3c1-1.4 2.2-2 2.9-1.9-.1 1.5-.2 3.4-2.9 3.6-1.9.2-3.4-.8-3.5-1.9-.2-1.3 1-2.2 1.9-.8.7-2.3-1.2-3-2.5-1.6.9-2.2.9-3.9-1.2-5.5-1.5 2-1.3 3.7.6 5.6-1.2-.7-3.1 0-2 2.3.6-1.4 1.8-1.1 2.1.1.2.9-.3 1.9-1.5 2.1-.9.2-2.4-.5-3.5-3 .6 0 1.2.3 2 .9l-1.2-4c-.3 1.1-.7 1.9-1.1 2.3-.3-.8-.2-1.4 0-2.7l-2.9.9C1.3 23 2.6 25.5 3.7 30c3.7-.5 7.9-.8 12.3-.8" fill="currentColor" fill-rule="evenodd"> </path> </svg>   <span class="govuk-header__logotype-text"> GOV.UK </span> </span> </a> </div> </div> <nav aria-labelledby="super-navigation-menu-heading" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__content" data-module="super-navigation-mega-menu"> <h2 id="super-navigation-menu-heading" class="govuk-visually-hidden"> Navigation menu </h2> <div class="govuk-width-container gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__button-width-container"> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__button-container"> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item"> <a class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item-link" data-track-action="menuLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse" data-track-dimension="Menu" data-track-dimension-index="29" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse"><span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-item-link-inner"> Menu </span></a> <button aria-controls="super-navigation-menu" aria-expanded="false" aria-label="Show navigation menu" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-top-toggle-button" data-text-for-hide="Hide navigation menu" data-text-for-show="Show navigation menu" data-toggle-desktop-group="top" data-toggle-mobile-group="top" data-tracking-key="menu" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"select_content","type":"header menu bar","text":"Menu","index_section":1,"index_section_count":2,"section":"Menu"}" hidden="hidden" id="super-navigation-menu-toggle" type="button"> <span class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-top-toggle-button-inner">Menu</span> </button> </div> <div class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-item"> <button id="super-search-menu-toggle" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-toggle-button" aria-controls="super-search-menu" aria-expanded="true" aria-label="Hide search menu" data-text-for-hide="Hide search menu" data-text-for-show="Show search menu" data-toggle-mobile-group="top" data-toggle-desktop-group="top" data-tracking-key="search" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"select_content","type":"header menu bar","text":"Search","index_section":2,"index_section_count":2,"section":"Search"}" hidden="hidden" type="button"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden"> Search GOV.UK </span> <svg class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-toggle-button-link-icon" width="27" height="27" viewbox="0 0 27 27" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <circle cx="12.0161" cy="11.0161" r="8.51613" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></circle> <line x1="17.8668" y1="17.3587" x2="26.4475" y2="25.9393" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></line> </svg> <span aria-hidden="true" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-top-toggle-close-icon" focusable="false"> × </span> </button> <a class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-item-link" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/search"> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden"> Search GOV.UK </span> <svg class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-item-link-icon" width="27" height="27" viewbox="0 0 27 27" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <circle cx="12.0161" cy="11.0161" r="8.51613" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></circle> <line x1="17.8668" y1="17.3587" x2="26.4475" y2="25.9393" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></line> </svg> </a> </div> </div> </div> <div id="super-navigation-menu" hidden="hidden" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-dropdown-menu"> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="govuk-grid-row gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-items"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds-from-desktop gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__column--services-and-information"> <h3 class="govuk-heading-m gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__column-header"> Services and information </h3> <ul class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items--services-and-information"> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/benefits" data-track-dimension="Benefits" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":1,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits">Benefits</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/births-deaths-marriages" data-track-dimension="Births, death, marriages and care" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":2,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages">Births, death, marriages and care</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/business" data-track-dimension="Business and self-employed" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":3,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/business">Business and self-employed</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/childcare-parenting" data-track-dimension="Childcare and parenting" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":4,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/childcare-parenting">Childcare and parenting</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/citizenship" data-track-dimension="Citizenship and living in the UK" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":5,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship">Citizenship and living in the UK</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/justice" data-track-dimension="Crime, justice and the law" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":6,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/justice">Crime, justice and the law</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/disabilities" data-track-dimension="Disabled people" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":7,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/disabilities">Disabled people</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/driving" data-track-dimension="Driving and transport" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":8,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving">Driving and transport</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/education" data-track-dimension="Education and learning" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":9,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/education">Education and learning</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/employing-people" data-track-dimension="Employing people" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":10,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people">Employing people</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/environment-countryside" data-track-dimension="Environment and countryside" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":11,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/environment-countryside">Environment and countryside</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/housing-local-services" data-track-dimension="Housing and local services" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":12,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/housing-local-services">Housing and local services</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/tax" data-track-dimension="Money and tax" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":13,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/tax">Money and tax</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/abroad" data-track-dimension="Passports, travel and living abroad" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":14,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad">Passports, travel and living abroad</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/visas-immigration" data-track-dimension="Visas and immigration" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":15,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration">Visas and immigration</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link" data-track-action="servicesandinformationLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/browse/working" data-track-dimension="Working, jobs and pensions" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":1,"index_link":16,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":16,"section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/working">Working, jobs and pensions</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third-from-desktop gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__column--government-activity"> <h3 class="govuk-heading-m gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__column-header"> Government activity </h3> <ul class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-items--government-activity"> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/government/organisations" data-track-dimension="Departments" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":2,"index_link":1,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":6,"section":"Government activity"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations">Departments</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Departments, agencies and public bodies</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/news-and-communications" data-track-dimension="News" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":2,"index_link":2,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":6,"section":"Government activity"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications">News</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">News stories, speeches, letters and notices</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/guidance-and-regulation" data-track-dimension="Guidance and regulation" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":2,"index_link":3,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":6,"section":"Government activity"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/search/guidance-and-regulation">Guidance and regulation</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Detailed guidance, regulations and rules</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/research-and-statistics" data-track-dimension="Research and statistics" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":2,"index_link":4,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":6,"section":"Government activity"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics">Research and statistics</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Reports, analysis and official statistics</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/policy-papers-and-consultations" data-track-dimension="Policy papers and consultations" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":2,"index_link":5,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":6,"section":"Government activity"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/search/policy-papers-and-consultations">Policy papers and consultations</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Consultations and strategy</p> </li> <li class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__dropdown-list-item"> <a class="govuk-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-link--with-description" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-label="/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases" data-track-dimension="Transparency" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"header menu bar","index_section":2,"index_link":6,"index_section_count":3,"index_total":6,"section":"Government activity"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases">Transparency</a> <p class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-second-item-description">Data, Freedom of Information releases and corporate reports</p> </li> </ul> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div id="super-search-menu" hidden="hidden" class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__navigation-dropdown-menu"> <div class="govuk-width-container gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-container gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-items"> <h3 class="govuk-visually-hidden"> Search </h3> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-full"> <form class="gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-form" id="search" data-module="ga4-form-tracker" data-ga4-form="{"event_name":"search","type":"header menu bar","section":"Search GOV.UK","action":"search","url":"/search/all","index_section":3,"index_section_count":3}" data-ga4-form-include-text data-ga4-form-no-answer-undefined action="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/search" method="get" role="search" aria-label="Site-wide"> <div class="gem-c-search govuk-!-display-none-print govuk-!-margin-bottom-0 gem-c-search--large gem-c-search--on-white gem-c-search--separate-label" data-module="gem-toggle-input-class-on-focus"> <label for="search-main-21fa5edd" class="govuk-label govuk-label--m gem-c-layout-super-navigation-header__search-label--large-navbar">Search GOV.UK</label> <div class="gem-c-search__item-wrapper"> <input enterkeyhint="search" class="gem-c-search__item gem-c-search__input js-class-toggle" id="search-main-21fa5edd" name="q" title="Search" type="search" value=""> <div class="gem-c-search__item gem-c-search__submit-wrapper"> <button class="gem-c-search__submit" type="submit" data-track-category="headerClicked" data-track-action="searchSubmitted" data-track-label="/search/all" data-track-dimension="Search on GOV.UK" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-module="gem-track-click" enterkeyhint="search"> Search <svg class="gem-c-search__icon" width="27" height="27" viewbox="0 0 27 27" fill="none" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false"> <circle cx="12.0161" cy="11.0161" r="8.51613" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></circle> <line x1="17.8668" y1="17.3587" x2="26.4475" y2="25.9393" stroke="currentColor" stroke-width="3"></line> </svg> </button> </div> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> </div> </div> </nav> </div> </header> <div class=""> <div class="gem-c-layout-for-public__blue-bar govuk-width-container"></div> </div> <div id="wrapper" class="direction-ltr govuk-width-container"> <div class="gem-c-contextual-breadcrumbs"> <div data-module="gem-track-click ga4-link-tracker" class="gem-c-breadcrumbs govuk-breadcrumbs govuk-breadcrumbs--collapse-on-mobile"> <ol class="govuk-breadcrumbs__list"> <li class="govuk-breadcrumbs__list-item"> <a data-track-category="homeLinkClicked" data-track-action="homeBreadcrumb" data-track-label="" data-track-options="{}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"breadcrumb","index_link":"1","index_total":"3"}" class="govuk-breadcrumbs__link" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/">Home</a> </li> <li class="govuk-breadcrumbs__list-item"> <a data-track-category="breadcrumbClicked" data-track-action="2" data-track-label="/browse/employing-people" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"3","dimension29":"Employing people"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"breadcrumb","index_link":"2","index_total":"3"}" class="govuk-breadcrumbs__link" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people">Employing people</a> </li> <li class="govuk-breadcrumbs__list-item"> <a data-track-category="breadcrumbClicked" data-track-action="3" data-track-label="/browse/employing-people/contracts" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"3","dimension29":"Contracts of employment and working hours"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"breadcrumb","index_link":"3","index_total":"3"}" class="govuk-breadcrumbs__link" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people/contracts">Contracts of employment and working hours</a> </li> </ol> </div> </div> <main role="main" id="content" class="guide" lang="en"> <span id="Top"></span> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="gem-c-title govuk-!-margin-top-8 govuk-!-margin-bottom-8"> <h1 class="gem-c-title__text govuk-heading-xl"> Employers: preventing discrimination </h1> </div> <a class="gem-c-skip-link govuk-skip-link govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="govuk-skip-link" href="#guide-contents">Skip to contents of guide</a> <aside class="part-navigation-container" role="complementary"> <nav data-module="gem-track-click ga4-link-tracker" aria-label="Pages in this guide" class="gem-c-contents-list" role="navigation"> <h2 class="gem-c-contents-list__title"> Contents </h2> <ol class="gem-c-contents-list__list"> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed gem-c-contents-list__list-item--active" aria-current="true"> <span aria-hidden="true"></span> Overview </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <span aria-hidden="true"></span> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 2" data-track-label="/employer-preventing-discrimination/recruitment" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Discrimination in recruitment"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","section":"Contents","type":"contents list","index_total":3,"index_link":2}" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employer-preventing-discrimination/recruitment">Discrimination in recruitment</a> </li> <li class="gem-c-contents-list__list-item gem-c-contents-list__list-item--dashed"> <span aria-hidden="true"></span> <a class="gem-c-contents-list__link govuk-link" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="content_item 3" data-track-label="/employer-preventing-discrimination/discrimination-in-work" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Discrimination in work"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","section":"Contents","type":"contents list","index_total":3,"index_link":3}" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employer-preventing-discrimination/discrimination-in-work">Discrimination in work</a> </li> </ol> </nav> </aside> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds govuk-!-margin-top-6" id="guide-contents"> <h1 class="gem-c-heading govuk-heading-l govuk-!-margin-bottom-6"> Overview </h1> <div class="gem-c-govspeak govuk-govspeak direction-ltr disable-youtube" data-module="govspeak"> <p>It is against the law to treat someone less favourably than someone else because of a personal characteristic such as religion, sex, gender reassignment or age.</p> <p>Discrimination can include:</p> <ul> <li>not hiring someone</li> <li>selecting a particular person for redundancy</li> <li>paying someone less than another worker without good reason</li> </ul> <p>You can discriminate against someone even if you do not intend to. For example, you can discriminate indirectly by offering working conditions or rules that disadvantage one group of people more than another.</p> </div> <nav class="govuk-pagination govuk-pagination--block" role="navigation" aria-label="Pagination" data-module="ga4-link-tracker"> <div class="govuk-pagination__next"> <a class="govuk-link govuk-pagination__link" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employer-preventing-discrimination/recruitment" rel="next" data-track-category="contentsClicked" data-track-action="next" data-track-label="/employer-preventing-discrimination/recruitment" data-track-dimension="next" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"previous and next","text":"Discrimination in recruitment","section":"Next"}"> <svg class="govuk-pagination__icon govuk-pagination__icon--next" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" height="13" width="15" aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" viewbox="0 0 15 13"> <path d="m8.107-0.0078125-1.4136 1.414 4.2926 4.293h-12.986v2h12.896l-4.1855 3.9766 1.377 1.4492 6.7441-6.4062-6.7246-6.7266z"></path> </svg> <span class="govuk-pagination__link-title">Next</span> <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">:</span> <span class="govuk-pagination__link-label">Discrimination in recruitment</span> </a> </div> </nav> <div class="responsive-bottom-margin"> <a href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employer-preventing-discrimination/print" class="govuk-link govuk-link--no-visited-state govuk-body" data-module="ga4-link-tracker" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"print page","section":"Footer","text":"View a printable version of the whole guide"}"> View a printable version of the whole guide </a> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third"> <div class="gem-c-contextual-sidebar"> <div class="gem-c-step-nav-related" data-module="gem-track-click ga4-link-tracker"> <h2 class="gem-c-step-nav-related__heading"> <span class="gem-c-step-nav-related__pretitle">Part of</span> </h2> <ul class="gem-c-step-nav-related__links"> <li class="gem-c-step-nav-related__link-item"> <a href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employ-someone" class="govuk-link" data-track-category="stepNavPartOfClicked" data-track-action="Part of" data-track-label="/employ-someone" data-track-dimension="Employ someone: step by step" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-track-options="{"dimension96" : "47bcdf4c-9df9-48ff-b1ad-2381ca819464" }" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"part of","index_link":"1","index_total":"2","section":"Part of"}"> Employ someone: step by step </a> </li> <li class="gem-c-step-nav-related__link-item"> <a href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/get-ready-to-employ-someone" class="govuk-link" data-track-category="stepNavPartOfClicked" data-track-action="Part of" data-track-label="/get-ready-to-employ-someone" data-track-dimension="Get your business ready to employ staff: step by step" data-track-dimension-index="29" data-track-options="{"dimension96" : "dc77c606-cc6b-49ac-9f40-b96959d02539" }" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"part of","index_link":"2","index_total":"2","section":"Part of"}"> Get your business ready to employ staff: step by step </a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="gem-c-related-navigation" data-module="gem-track-click ga4-link-tracker"> <h2 id="related-nav-related_items-8a2bfeca" class="gem-c-related-navigation__main-heading" data-track-count="sidebarRelatedItemSection"> Related content </h2> <nav role="navigation" class="gem-c-related-navigation__nav-section" aria-labelledby="related-nav-related_items-8a2bfeca" data-module="gem-toggle"> <ul class="gem-c-related-navigation__link-list"> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--sidebar govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--other" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="1.1 Related content" data-track-label="/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"3","dimension29":"Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"related content","index_section":"1","index_link":"1","index_section_count":"1","index_total":"3","section":"Related content"}" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/definition-of-disability-under-equality-act-2010">Definition of disability under the Equality Act 2010</a></li> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--sidebar govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--other" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="1.2 Related content" data-track-label="/discrimination-your-rights" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"3","dimension29":"Discrimination: your rights"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"related content","index_section":"1","index_link":"2","index_section_count":"1","index_total":"3","section":"Related content"}" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/discrimination-your-rights">Discrimination: your rights</a></li> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--sidebar govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--other" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="1.3 Related content" data-track-label="/recruitment-disabled-people" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"3","dimension29":"Recruitment and disabled people"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"related content","index_section":"1","index_link":"3","index_section_count":"1","index_total":"3","section":"Related content"}" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/recruitment-disabled-people">Recruitment and disabled people</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="gem-c-contextual-footer"> <div class="gem-c-related-navigation" data-module="gem-track-click ga4-link-tracker"> <nav role="navigation" class="gem-c-related-navigation__nav-section" aria-labelledby="related-nav-topics-800eae39" data-module="gem-toggle"> <h2 id="related-nav-topics-800eae39" class="gem-c-related-navigation__sub-heading gem-c-related-navigation__sub-heading--footer" data-track-count="footerRelatedItemSection">Explore the topic</h2> <ul class="gem-c-related-navigation__link-list"> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--footer" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="1.1 Explore the topic" data-track-label="/browse/employing-people/contracts" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"3","dimension29":"Contracts of employment and working hours"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"contextual footer","index_section":"1","index_link":"1","index_section_count":"1","index_total":"3","section":"Explore the topic"}" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people/contracts">Contracts of employment and working hours</a></li> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--footer" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="1.2 Explore the topic" data-track-label="/browse/employing-people/recruiting-hiring" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"3","dimension29":"Recruiting and hiring"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"contextual footer","index_section":"1","index_link":"2","index_section_count":"1","index_total":"3","section":"Explore the topic"}" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people/recruiting-hiring">Recruiting and hiring</a></li> <li class="gem-c-related-navigation__link"><a class="govuk-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link govuk-link gem-c-related-navigation__section-link--footer" data-track-category="relatedLinkClicked" data-track-action="1.3 Explore the topic" data-track-label="/browse/employing-people/trade-unions" data-track-options="{"dimension28":"3","dimension29":"Trade unions and workers rights"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"contextual footer","index_section":"1","index_link":"3","index_section_count":"1","index_total":"3","section":"Explore the topic"}" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people/trade-unions">Trade unions and workers rights</a></li> </ul> </nav> </div> </div> </div> </div> </main> </div> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="gem-c-feedback govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="feedback ga4-event-tracker"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt gem-c-feedback__js-show js-prompt" tabindex="-1"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-content"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions js-prompt-questions" hidden> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-question-answer"> <h2 class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-question">Is this page useful?</h2> <ul class="gem-c-feedback__option-list"> <li class="gem-c-feedback__option-list-item govuk-visually-hidden" hidden> <a class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-link" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffMaybeClick" role="button" hidden="hidden" aria-hidden="true" href="/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/contact/govuk"> Maybe </a> </li> <li class="gem-c-feedback__option-list-item"> <button class="govuk-button gem-c-feedback__prompt-link js-page-is-useful" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffYesClick" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"form_submit","type":"feedback","text":"Yes","section":"Is this page useful?"}"> Yes <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">this page is useful</span> </button> </li> <li class="gem-c-feedback__option-list-item"> <button class="govuk-button gem-c-feedback__prompt-link js-toggle-form js-page-is-not-useful" aria-controls="page-is-not-useful" aria-expanded="false" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffNoClick" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"form_submit","type":"feedback","text":"No","section":"Is this page useful?"}"> No <span class="govuk-visually-hidden">this page is not useful</span> </button> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions gem-c-feedback__prompt-success js-prompt-success" role="alert" hidden> Thank you for your feedback </div> <div class="gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions gem-c-feedback__prompt-questions--something-is-wrong js-prompt-questions" hidden> <button class="govuk-button gem-c-feedback__prompt-link js-toggle-form js-something-is-wrong" aria-expanded="false" aria-controls="something-is-wrong" data-track-category="Onsite Feedback" data-track-action="GOV-UK Open Form" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"form_submit","type":"feedback","text":"Report a problem with this page","section":"Is this page useful?"}"> Report a problem with this page </button> </div> </div> </div> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/contact/govuk/problem_reports" id="something-is-wrong" class="gem-c-feedback__form js-feedback-form" data-track-category="Onsite Feedback" data-track-action="GOV.UK Send Form" method="post" hidden> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__error-summary gem-c-feedback__js-show js-errors" tabindex="-1" hidden></div> <input type="hidden" name="url" value="https://www.gov.uk/employer-preventing-discrimination"> <h3 class="gem-c-feedback__form-heading">Help us improve GOV.UK</h3> <p id="feedback_explanation" class="gem-c-feedback__form-paragraph">Don’t include personal or financial information like your National Insurance number or credit card details.</p> <div class="govuk-visually-hidden" aria-hidden="true"> <label for="giraffe">This field is for robots only. Please leave blank</label> <input id="giraffe" name="giraffe" type="text" pattern=".{0}" tabindex="-1" autocomplete="off"> </div> <div class="gem-c-textarea govuk-form-group govuk-!-margin-bottom-6"> <label for="textarea-6f3d0d81" class="gem-c-label govuk-label">What were you doing?</label> <textarea name="what_doing" class="govuk-textarea" id="textarea-6f3d0d81" rows="3" spellcheck="true" aria-describedby="feedback_explanation"> </textarea> </div> <div class="gem-c-textarea govuk-form-group govuk-!-margin-bottom-6"> <label for="textarea-f3a5dfd1" class="gem-c-label govuk-label">What went wrong?</label> <textarea name="what_wrong" class="govuk-textarea" id="textarea-f3a5dfd1" rows="3" spellcheck="true"> </textarea> </div> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"form_submit","type":"feedback","text":"Send","section":"Help us improve GOV.UK"}">Send</button> <button class="govuk-button govuk-button--secondary gem-c-feedback__close gem-c-feedback__js-show js-close-form" data-track-category="Onsite Feedback" data-track-action="GOV.UK Close Form" aria-controls="something-is-wrong" aria-expanded="true"> Cancel </button> </div> </div> </form> <script nonce="NCkzFfgt1xm2lkJWkD8fRA=="> //<![CDATA[ document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function () { var input = document.querySelector("#giraffe"), form = document.querySelector("#something-is-wrong") form.addEventListener("submit", spamCapture); function spamCapture(e) { if (input.value.length !== 0) return; e.preventDefault(); } }); //]]> </script> <form action="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/contact/govuk/email-survey-signup" id="page-is-not-useful" class="gem-c-feedback__form gem-c-feedback__form--email gem-c-feedback__js-show js-feedback-form" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="Send Form" method="post"> <div class="govuk-grid-row"> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds" id="survey-wrapper"> <div class="gem-c-feedback__error-summary js-errors" tabindex="-1" hidden></div> <input name="email_survey_signup[survey_id]" type="hidden" value="footer_satisfaction_survey"> <input name="email_survey_signup[survey_source]" type="hidden" value="/employer-preventing-discrimination"> <h3 class="gem-c-feedback__form-heading">Help us improve GOV.UK</h3> <p id="survey_explanation" class="gem-c-feedback__form-paragraph">To help us improve GOV.UK, we’d like to know more about your visit today. We’ll send you a link to a feedback form. It will take only 2 minutes to fill in. Don’t worry we won’t send you spam or share your email address with anyone.</p> <div class="govuk-form-group"> <label for="input-4cf09d8e" class="gem-c-label govuk-label">Email address</label> <input aria-describedby="survey_explanation" autocomplete="email" class="gem-c-input govuk-input" id="input-4cf09d8e" name="email_survey_signup[email_address]" spellcheck="false" type="email"> </div> <button class="gem-c-button govuk-button" type="submit" data-ga4-event="{"event_name":"form_submit","type":"feedback","text":"Send me the survey","section":"Help us improve GOV.UK"}">Send me the survey</button> <button class="govuk-button govuk-button--secondary gem-c-feedback__close js-close-form" data-track-category="yesNoFeedbackForm" data-track-action="ffFormClose" aria-controls="page-is-not-useful" aria-expanded="true" hidden> Cancel </button> </div> </div> </form> </div> </div> <footer class="gem-c-layout-footer govuk-footer gem-c-layout-footer--border" role="contentinfo" data-module="ga4-link-tracker"> <div class="govuk-width-container"> <div class="govuk-footer__navigation" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-links-only> <div class="govuk-grid-column-two-thirds govuk-!-display-none-print"> <h2 class="govuk-footer__heading govuk-heading-m">Services and information</h2> <ul class="govuk-footer__list govuk-footer__list--columns-2"> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/benefits" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Benefits"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"1","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/benefits">Benefits</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/births-deaths-marriages" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Births, death, marriages and care"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"2","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/births-deaths-marriages">Births, death, marriages and care</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/business" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Business and self-employed"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"3","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/business">Business and self-employed</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/childcare-parenting" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Childcare and parenting"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"4","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/childcare-parenting">Childcare and parenting</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/citizenship" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Citizenship and living in the UK"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"5","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/citizenship">Citizenship and living in the UK</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/justice" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Crime, justice and the law"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"6","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/justice">Crime, justice and the law</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/disabilities" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Disabled people"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"7","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/disabilities">Disabled people</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/driving" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Driving and transport"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"8","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/driving">Driving and transport</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/education" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Education and learning"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"9","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/education">Education and learning</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/employing-people" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Employing people"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"10","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people">Employing people</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/environment-countryside" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Environment and countryside"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"11","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/environment-countryside">Environment and countryside</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/housing-local-services" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Housing and local services"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"12","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/housing-local-services">Housing and local services</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/tax" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Money and tax"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"13","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/tax">Money and tax</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/abroad" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Passports, travel and living abroad"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"14","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/abroad">Passports, travel and living abroad</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/visas-immigration" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Visas and immigration"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"15","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/visas-immigration">Visas and immigration</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="topicsLink" data-track-label="/browse/working" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Working, jobs and pensions"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"16","index_section":"1","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"16","section":"Services and information"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/working">Working, jobs and pensions</a> </li> </ul> </div> <div class="govuk-grid-column-one-third govuk-!-display-none-print"> <h2 class="govuk-footer__heading govuk-heading-m">Government activity</h2> <ul class="govuk-footer__list govuk-footer__list--columns-1"> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/government/organisations" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Departments"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"1","index_section":"2","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Government activity"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations">Departments</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/news-and-communications" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"News"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"2","index_section":"2","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Government activity"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/search/news-and-communications">News</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/guidance-and-regulation" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Guidance and regulation"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"3","index_section":"2","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Government activity"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/search/guidance-and-regulation">Guidance and regulation</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/research-and-statistics" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Research and statistics"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"4","index_section":"2","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Government activity"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/search/research-and-statistics">Research and statistics</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/policy-papers-and-consultations" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Policy papers and consultations"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"5","index_section":"2","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Government activity"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/search/policy-papers-and-consultations">Policy papers and consultations</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Transparency"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"6","index_section":"2","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Government activity"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/search/transparency-and-freedom-of-information-releases">Transparency</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/government/how-government-works" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"How government works"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"7","index_section":"2","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Government activity"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/government/how-government-works">How government works</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="governmentactivityLink" data-track-label="/government/get-involved" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Get involved"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"8","index_section":"2","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Government activity"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/government/get-involved">Get involved</a> </li> </ul> </div> </div> <hr class="govuk-footer__section-break"> <div class="govuk-footer__meta"> <div class="govuk-footer__meta-item govuk-footer__meta-item--grow"> <h2 class="govuk-visually-hidden">Support links</h2> <ul class="govuk-footer__inline-list govuk-!-display-none-print" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-links-only> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Help"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"1","index_section":"3","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Support links"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/help">Help</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/privacy-notice" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Privacy"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"2","index_section":"3","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Support links"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/help/privacy-notice">Privacy</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/cookies" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Cookies"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"3","index_section":"3","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Support links"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/help/cookies">Cookies</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/accessibility-statement" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Accessibility statement"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"4","index_section":"3","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Support links"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/help/accessibility-statement">Accessibility statement</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/contact" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Contact"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"5","index_section":"3","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Support links"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/contact">Contact</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/help/terms-conditions" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Terms and conditions"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"6","index_section":"3","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Support links"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/help/terms-conditions">Terms and conditions</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" lang="cy" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/cymraeg" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Rhestr o Wasanaethau Cymraeg"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"7","index_section":"3","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Support links"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/cymraeg">Rhestr o Wasanaethau Cymraeg</a> </li> <li class="govuk-footer__inline-list-item"> <a class="govuk-footer__link" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-action="supportLink" data-track-label="/government/organisations/government-digital-service" data-track-options="{"dimension29":"Government Digital Service"}" data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","type":"footer","index_link":"8","index_section":"3","index_section_count":"5","index_total":"8","section":"Support links"}" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-digital-service">Government Digital Service</a> </li> </ul> <svg aria-hidden="true" focusable="false" class="govuk-footer__licence-logo" xmlns="http://www.w3.org/2000/svg" viewbox="0 0 483.2 195.7" height="17" width="41"> <path fill="currentColor" d="M421.5 142.8V.1l-50.7 32.3v161.1h112.4v-50.7zm-122.3-9.6A47.12 47.12 0 0 1 221 97.8c0-26 21.1-47.1 47.1-47.1 16.7 0 31.4 8.7 39.7 21.8l42.7-27.2A97.63 97.63 0 0 0 268.1 0c-36.5 0-68.3 20.1-85.1 49.7A98 98 0 0 0 97.8 0C43.9 0 0 43.9 0 97.8s43.9 97.8 97.8 97.8c36.5 0 68.3-20.1 85.1-49.7a97.76 97.76 0 0 0 149.6 25.4l19.4 22.2h3v-87.8h-80l24.3 27.5zM97.8 145c-26 0-47.1-21.1-47.1-47.1s21.1-47.1 47.1-47.1 47.2 21 47.2 47S123.8 145 97.8 145"></path> </svg> <span class="govuk-footer__licence-description" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-action="copyrightLink" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-label="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/" data-track-options="{"dimension29": "Open Government Licence v3.0"}" data-track-links-only data-ga4-track-links-only data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","section":"Licence","index_section":"4","index_link":"1","index_section_count":"5","text":"Open Government Licence v3.0","index_total":"1","type":"footer"}"> All content is available under the <a class="govuk-footer__link" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/doc/open-government-licence/version/3/" rel="license">Open Government Licence v3.0</a>, except where otherwise stated </span> </div> <div class="govuk-footer__meta-item" data-module="gem-track-click" data-track-action="copyrightLink" data-track-category="footerClicked" data-track-label="https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/re-using-public-sector-information/uk-government-licensing-framework/crown-copyright/" data-track-options="{"dimension29": "© Crown copyright"}" data-track-links-only data-ga4-link="{"event_name":"navigation","section":"Copyright","index_section":"5","index_link":"1","index_section_count":"5","text":"© Crown copyright","index_total":"1","type":"footer"}"> <a class="govuk-footer__link govuk-footer__copyright-logo" href="https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.nationalarchives.gov.uk/information-management/re-using-public-sector-information/uk-government-licensing-framework/crown-copyright/">© Crown copyright</a> </div> </div> </div> </footer> <script src="/web/20240420191340js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/static/application-4da3032fabc004afb1957d0cca27a5b946e2df41b38c0b10fa4a14bceb653030.js"></script> <script src="/web/20240420191340js_/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/application-ce8afee06319c697f09d49fa26ab304188f559a50316948c28c6445d5a427498.js"></script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/http://schema.org", "@type": "Article", "mainEntityOfPage": { "@type": "WebPage", "@id": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employer-preventing-discrimination" }, "name": "Employers: preventing discrimination", "datePublished": "2012-07-03T14:52:53Z", "dateModified": "2015-08-21T17:14:06Z", "text": "Discrimination policy and equal opportunities in recruitment and in the workplace - age discrimination, disabled workers, gender reassignment, sex discrimination ", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-b15a4d254746d1642b8187217576d1e8fe50b51352d352fda13eee55d3c1c80a.png" } }, "image": [ "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-1x1-c3d38c0d4fc00005df38a71e1db7097276681d6917bca58f0dc8336a252e1bb3.png", "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-4x3-edc38c137a14ecfc3fc83f404090e20dab806dad345c96a1df6a163ee2d1e3aa.png", "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-schema-placeholder-16x9-5dc2d0ea1eb72cd94e66db210ef41b22ce364e7ed09d63a3acc28fda09e27864.png" ], "author": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "Government Digital Service", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/government/organisations/government-digital-service" }, "about": [ { "@context": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employment/contract-working-hours" }, { "@context": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/business-and-industry/recruiting-hiring" }, { "@context": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employment/recruiting-hiring" }, { "@context": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/http://schema.org", "@type": "Thing", "sameAs": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/work/trade-unions" } ], "headLine": "Employers: preventing discrimination", "description": "Discrimination policy and equal opportunities in recruitment and in the workplace - age discrimination, disabled workers, gender reassignment, sex discrimination ", "articleBody": "\u003cp\u003eIt is against the law to treat someone less favourably than someone else because of a personal characteristic such as religion, sex, gender reassignment or age.\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eDiscrimination can include:\u003c/p\u003e\n\n\u003cul\u003e\n \u003cli\u003enot hiring someone\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003eselecting a particular person for redundancy\u003c/li\u003e\n \u003cli\u003epaying someone less than another worker without good reason\u003c/li\u003e\n\u003c/ul\u003e\n\n\u003cp\u003eYou can discriminate against someone even if you do not intend to. For example, you can discriminate indirectly by offering working conditions or rules that disadvantage one group of people more than another.\u003c/p\u003e\n" } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/http://schema.org", "@type": "BreadcrumbList", "itemListElement": [ { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 1, "item": { "name": "Home", "@id": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 2, "item": { "name": "Employing people", "@id": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people" } }, { "@type": "ListItem", "position": 3, "item": { "name": "Contracts of employment and working hours", "@id": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/browse/employing-people/contracts" } } ] } </script><script type="application/ld+json"> { "@context": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/http://schema.org", "@type": "FAQPage", "headline": "Employers: preventing discrimination", "description": "Discrimination policy and equal opportunities in recruitment and in the workplace - age discrimination, disabled workers, gender reassignment, sex discrimination ", "publisher": { "@type": "Organization", "name": "GOV.UK", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk", "logo": { "@type": "ImageObject", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/assets/government-frontend/govuk_publishing_components/govuk-logo-b15a4d254746d1642b8187217576d1e8fe50b51352d352fda13eee55d3c1c80a.png" } }, "mainEntity": [ { "@type": "Question", "name": "Overview", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employer-preventing-discrimination", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employer-preventing-discrimination", "text": "<p>It is against the law to treat someone less favourably than someone else because of a personal characteristic such as religion, sex, gender reassignment or age.</p>\n\n<p>Discrimination can include:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>not hiring someone</li>\n <li>selecting a particular person for redundancy</li>\n <li>paying someone less than another worker without good reason</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>You can discriminate against someone even if you do not intend to. For example, you can discriminate indirectly by offering working conditions or rules that disadvantage one group of people more than another.</p>\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Discrimination in recruitment", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employer-preventing-discrimination/recruitment", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employer-preventing-discrimination/recruitment", "text": "<h2 id=\"discrimination-in-job-adverts\">Discrimination in job adverts</h2>\n\n<p>You must not state or imply in a job advert that you’ll discriminate against anyone. This includes saying that you are not able to cater for workers with a disability.</p>\n\n<p>Only use phrases like ‘recent graduate’ or ‘highly experienced’ when these are actual requirements of the job. Otherwise you could discriminate against younger or older people who might not have had the opportunity to get qualifications.</p>\n\n<p>Where you advertise might cause indirect discrimination - for example, advertising only in men’s magazines.</p>\n\n<h3 id=\"get-help-advertising-a-job-without-discriminating\">Get help advertising a job without discriminating</h3>\n\n<div class=\"contact\">\n<p><strong>Employer Services Line</strong> <br>\nTelephone: 0800 169 0178 <br>\nTextphone: 0800 169 0172 <br>\n<a href=\"https://connect.interpreterslive.co.uk/vrs?ilc=DWP\">Video relay service</a> for British Sign Language (BSL) users - <a href=\"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oELNMfAvDxw\">check you can use the service</a> <br>\nMonday to Friday, 9am to 5pm <br>\n<a href=\"/call-charges\">Find out about call charges</a></p>\n</div>\n\n<h2 id=\"questions-you-cannot-ask-when-recruiting\">Questions you cannot ask when recruiting</h2>\n\n<p>You must not ask candidates about <a href=\"/discrimination-your-rights/types-of-discrimination\">‘protected characteristics’</a> or whether they:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>are married, single or in a civil partnership</li>\n <li>have children or plan to have children</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h3 id=\"asking-about-health-or-disability\">Asking about health or disability</h3>\n\n<p>You can only ask about health or <a href=\"/recruitment-disabled-people\">disability</a> if:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>there are necessary requirements of the job that cannot be met with <a href=\"/reasonable-adjustments-for-disabled-workers\">reasonable adjustments</a>\n</li>\n <li>you’re finding out if someone needs help to take part in a selection test or interview</li>\n <li>you’re using ‘<a href=\"/recruitment-disabled-people/encouraging-applications\">positive action</a>’ to recruit a disabled person</li>\n</ul>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Warning\" class=\"application-notice help-notice\">\n<p>You might be breaking the law if any discrimination happens during their recruitment process, even if you use a recruitment agency.</p>\n</div>\n\n<h2 id=\"asking-for-a-date-of-birth\">Asking for a date of birth</h2>\n\n<p>You can only ask for someone’s date of birth on an application form if they must be a certain age to do the job, for example selling alcohol.</p>\n\n<p>You can ask someone their date of birth on a separate equality monitoring form. You should not let the person selecting or interviewing candidates see this form.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"spent-criminal-convictions\">Spent criminal convictions</h2>\n\n<p>Applicants do not have to tell you about <a href=\"/exoffenders-and-employment\">criminal convictions that are spent</a>. You must treat the applicant as if the conviction has not happened, and cannot refuse to employ the person because of their conviction.</p>\n\n<p>There are some areas of employment that are exempt from this rule, for example schools.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"trade-union-membership\">Trade union membership</h2>\n\n<p>You must not use membership of a trade union as a factor in deciding whether to employ someone. This includes:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>not employing someone because they’re a member of a trade union</li>\n <li>insisting someone joins a trade union before you’ll employ them</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h2 id=\"employing-people-with-protected-characteristics\">Employing people with protected characteristics</h2>\n\n<p>You can choose a candidate who has a <a href=\"/discrimination-your-rights/types-of-discrimination\">protected characteristic</a> over one who does not if they’re both suitable for the job and you think that people with that characteristic:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>are underrepresented in the workforce, profession or industry</li>\n <li>suffer a disadvantage connected to that characteristic (for example people from a certain ethnic group are not often given jobs in your sector)</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>You can only do this if you’re trying to address the under-representation or disadvantage for that particular characteristic. You must make decisions on a case by case basis and not because of a certain policy.</p>\n\n<p>You cannot choose a candidate who is not as suitable for the job just because they have a protected characteristic.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"favouring-disabled-candidates\">Favouring disabled candidates</h2>\n\n<p>When a disabled person and a non-disabled person both meet the job requirements, you can treat the disabled person more favourably.</p>\n" } }, { "@type": "Question", "name": "Discrimination in work", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employer-preventing-discrimination/discrimination-in-work", "acceptedAnswer": { "@type": "Answer", "url": "https://web.archive.org/web/20240420191340/https://www.gov.uk/employer-preventing-discrimination/discrimination-in-work", "text": "<p>You must not discriminate against your workers. This could be done by, for example:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>introducing policies or benefits that discriminate between workers, for example a benefit for \nmarried workers that’s not available for people in a civil partnership</li>\n <li>paying men and women different amounts (this includes benefits, for example company cars) to do the same job</li>\n <li>choosing someone for redundancy because they have a protected characteristic</li>\n <li>failing to <a href=\"/reasonable-adjustments-for-disabled-workers\">make reasonable adjustments</a> for a disabled worker</li>\n <li>firing someone for making an allegation of discrimination</li>\n <li>firing someone because they’re a union member</li>\n <li>unfairly rejecting a <a href=\"/flexible-working\">request for flexible working</a>\n</li>\n</ul>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\">\n<p>This includes self-employed people on a contract for you.</p>\n</div>\n\n<p>You cannot promote or train workers just because of their age or the time they’ve worked for you.</p>\n\n<p>You’re allowed to ask workers about their future career plans, including retirement. These questions should only be asked in discussions about career development and not based on the employee’s age.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"preventing-discrimination\">Preventing discrimination</h2>\n\n<p>You can help prevent discrimination by:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>having an equality, diversity and inclusion policy</li>\n <li>providing regular anti-discrimination training</li>\n <li>making it clear what workers should do if discrimination happens</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>Find out more about <a rel=\"external\" href=\"https://www.acas.org.uk/discrimination-and-the-law/what-an-employer-can-do-to-prevent-discrimination\">how to prevent discrimination at work on the Acas website</a>.</p>\n\n<div role=\"note\" aria-label=\"Information\" class=\"application-notice info-notice\">\n<p>You’re responsible for any instances of discrimination at work unless you can show you’ve done everything you reasonably could to prevent or stop it.</p>\n</div>\n\n<h2 id=\"employment-tribunals\">Employment tribunals</h2>\n\n<p>A worker who thinks they’ve been discriminated against can <a href=\"/solve-workplace-dispute/formal-procedures\">raise a grievance</a> or take their case to an employment tribunal.</p>\n\n<h2 id=\"employing-family-members\">Employing family members</h2>\n\n<p>If you hire members of your family you must:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>avoid special treatment in terms of pay, promotion and working conditions</li>\n <li>make sure tax and <a href=\"/national-insurance\">National Insurance contributions</a> are done correctly</li>\n</ul>\n\n<h2 id=\"gender-reassignment\">Gender reassignment</h2>\n\n<p>As soon as a worker tells their employer that they’re having gender reassignment, they’re protected from discrimination. Discrimination includes:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>disadvantaging the worker because they have to take time off for medical treatment</li>\n <li>not allowing the worker to use facilities appropriate to their gender (for example, toilets)</li>\n</ul>\n\n<p>To avoid discrimination, you must:</p>\n\n<ul>\n <li>change your records (for example, human resources records) when the worker has a Gender Reassignment Certificate and a new birth certificate</li>\n <li>make sure you keep any information the worker gives you about their gender history completely confidential</li>\n</ul>\n" } } ] } </script> </body> </html>

CINXE.COM