the business ladder

Significant changes concerning recruitment and treatment of employees have come into force today, in the shape of The Equality Act.

Nine different pieces of legislation are merged under this new Act, with the government claiming that this shift will help make agreement amongst business owners easier.

The Equality Act ensures that pay secrecy clauses preventing employees from discussing their earnings with each other are abolished, which is expected to open up comparisons between men and women’s pay packages, therefore helping to cut down on gender-based discrimination.

Furthermore, the Act also aims to reduce the capabilities of employers to question potential employees during the recruitment procedure about any disabilities they may have.

There are apprehensions expressed by some business groups, however, who feel that these new policies could reinforce the legislative load on privately run businesses, the cost of observance believed to reach almost £200 million according to the government.

The Equality and Human Rights Commission have stated the reasons why this Act is so important, stating that: “Everyone is protected by the new law. It covers age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, sex and sexual orientation.”

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