Equality Act 2010: Guidance on the public sector duty and positive action

The Government Equalities Office has published draft Regulations on the public sector equality duty and guidance on the positive action provisions, which are expected to be introduced via the Equality Act 2010 on 6 April 2011. The Equality and Human Rights Commission has published guidance on the public sector equality duty. 

The general equality duty requires certain public bodies to eliminate discrimination, advance equality of opportunity and foster good relations between different groups. The specific duties are aimed at helping public bodies to meet their obligations under the general equality duty, and to make them more accountable to the public. 

The positive action provisions permit employers in their recruitment or promotion processes to treat individuals with a protected characteristic more favourably when faced with two or more candidates of equal merit, if the more favourable treatment is intended to address under-representation in the workforce or a disadvantage that is connected to the protected characteristic. 

Also

Government Equalities Office: public sector equality duty View more Government documents on the single public sector equality duty, including the Government's response to its consultation, on the Government Equalities Office website. 

Positive action and the Equality Act 2010: what will the provisions mean for employers? The coalition Government has taken the surprise decision to go ahead with controversial positive action provisions in the Equality Act 2010 that allow employers to favour under-represented groups in recruitment and promotion in some circumstances. What will they mean for employers? From the HR & Compliance Centre Tribunal Watch blog. 

Equality Act 2010: resources on HR & Compliance Centre We provide a round-up of the new and updated resources from HR & Compliance Centre on the Equality Act 2010, the main provisions of which come into force on 1 October 2010.