Internal environment - 9 protected characteristics & Discrimination

Question 1

The 9 protected characteristics covered under the 2010 Equality act

Answer 1

1. Age
2. Disability
3. Gender Assignment
4. Marriage & Civil partnership
5. Pregnancy & Maternity
6. Race
7. Religion & Belief
8. Sex
9. Sexual orientation

Question 2

Direct Discrimination

Answer 2

Someone is treated less favourably than another person because of a protected characteristic

• An advert asking for a young motivated woman discriminates against men and older people.
• Asking a mother to stop breastfeeding in a restaurant is direct discrimination.

Question 3

Discrimination by Association

Answer 3

Discrimination against someone because they associate with another person who possesses a PC

• An employee being refused promotion because they are a carer for a disabled parent is discrimination by association

Question 4

Discrimination by perception

Answer 4

Discrimination against someone because others think they possess a particular PC

• Refusing to employ a candidate because they look like they follow a particular religion based on their clothing
• Turning down an application for promotion by an employee because she is suspected to be lesbian.

Question 5

Indirect Discrimination

Answer 5

Occurs when you have a rule or policy that applies to everyone but disadvantages a particular PC

• A condition that all staff must wear skirts discriminates indirectly against men.
• An employer changing to a longer shift pattern which means everyone works fewer but longer days is indirect discrimination.