Equality Act Flashcards
what are the protected characteristics?
DRGRAMPS (9)
o Disability physical or mental impairment that has a substantial, long-term adverse effect on their ability to perform normal activities (i.e. HIV)
o Race
o Gender reassignment proposing to, in the process of, or have under gone treatment to reassign their sex
o Religion any (or absence of) religion or philosophical belief. The belief must be genuinely held and respect worthy.
o Age
o Marriage/CPs
o Pregnancy and maternity
o Sexual orientation includes attraction and behaviour
explain disability
physical or mental impairment that has a substantial, long-term adverse effect on their ability to perform normal activities (i.e. HIV)
explain gender reassignment
proposing to, in the process of, or have under gone treatment to reassign their sex
explain religion
any (or absence of) religion or philosophical belief. The belief must be genuinely held and respect worthy.
explain sexual orientation
includes attraction and behaviour
what are the types of prohibited conduct?
direct discrimination
disability discrimination
indirect discrimination
harassment
victimisation
in summary, what is direct discrimination?
A treats B less favourably than they would treat others because of B’s PC
what are the elements of direct discrimination?
there needs to be a comparator, less favourable treatment because of a protected characteristic
re: direct discrimination
explain the ‘comparator’
the treatment experienced must be different to that of a hypothetical (or real) person that doesn’t have the PC in the same or not materially different circumstances
re: direct discrimination
explain ‘less favourable treatment’
objective test. Any disadvantage will be sufficient and B need not show tangible loss. No need to show A intended to treat B less favourably.
re: direct discrimination
explain ‘protected characteristic’
the LFT must have happened because of a PC, it need not be the sole reason but the PC must have had an influence.
re: direct discrimination
is there a defence?
no defence unless it is age discrimination. This will be justified if it is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim (PMALA)
what is indirect discrimination?
there is a provision, practice, criterion (PCP) in place that applies to everyone but it does/would disadvantage those who share a PC
is there a defence to indirect discrimination?
if the provision, practice or criterion is a PMALA
This does not apply to pregnancy/maternity discrimination
give an example of indirect discrimination
policy requiring staff to work full time could disadvantage women as a greater proportion of women deal with child care. This would be ID but permissible if the employer could show its PMALA
what is disability discrimination?
when a disabled person is treated unfairly because of something arising as a consequence of their disability
The perpetrator must have known or reasonable ought to have known that the disabled person had a disability
what is a defence to disability discrimination?
if the LFT was a PMALA
explain harassment
a specific form of unwanted conduct that violates the individual’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading or humiliating environment
re: harassment
explain unwanted conduct
The unwanted conduct must either:
o Relate to a PC (not inc. pregnancy/maternity or marriage/CP); or
o Relate to gender reassignment or sex and result in LFT because of their rejection or submission to conduct;
o Be of a sexual nature
explain victimisation
A subjects B to detriment because they know or believe B will or has done a protected act.
re: victimisation
what are the protected acts?
Protected act includes:
o Bringing proceedings, giving evidence or information under the EQA
o Doing anything related to the provisions of the EQA
o Making an allegation someone has breached EQA
explain the duty to make reasonable adjustments
Where the EQA imposes a duty on someone to make RAs and they fail to do so, this will amount to discrimination. The obligations are:
o PCP or physical feature puts a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, reasonable steps must be taken to avoid disadvantage.
o If a disabled person would be at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, but for the auxiliary aid, reasonable steps must be taken to provide the auxiliary aid
what are the obligations under duty to make reasonable adjustments
o PCP or physical feature puts a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, reasonable steps must be taken to avoid disadvantage.
o If a disabled person would be at a substantial disadvantage compared to a non-disabled person, but for the auxiliary aid, reasonable steps must be taken to provide the auxiliary aid
what is substantial?
- Substantial = more than minor or trivial
are solicitor service providers?
Yes, all solicitors are
what are solicitors obligations are service providers?
SPs must not discriminate or victimise against a person by:
o Not providing them with the service;
o On the terms they provider the service; or
o Subjecting them to detriment or harassment
* Exceptions - marriage/CP and age discrimination of someone under 18
how is the legislation regarding service providers different to other parts of the EQA 2010?
there is no mention of PCs in this part of the EQA