The new Equality Act 2010 is being phased in from 1st Oct 2010 combining discrimination laws and other related legislation.   It will take several years before all parts are implemented.

The Act continues to cover  groups with ‘protected characteristics’ – age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation but aims to strengthen the existing laws by incorporating case law.

Workers now also have protection against harassment from third parties not employed by the employer (such as customers and members of the public).