Expert Witness: Discrimination in a time of COVID 

Why the Equality Act remains essential, relevant and powerful 

Summary:

It’s 25 years since the UK introduced its modern disabilities legislation but, as OH law expert Diana Kloss explains, it remains as powerful and relevant as ever, especially as the COVID-19 pandemic exposes more inequalities in the workplace. 

The Equality Act 2010 (EqA) came into force in October 2010. It followed a comprehensive review by the then Labour government of all the anti-discrimination legislation. It was, in fact, the last legislative measure for which that government was responsible before losing the 2010 general election. It brought together all the existing anti-discrimination legislation into one statute. Those laws had a history going back 35 years or more and had been regularly amended both in Westminster and through European Union directives incorporated in UK legislation. Importantly for occupational health (OH), the EqA incorporated, with significant amendments, the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, which passed into law 25 years ago….

 

Diana Kloss is a barrister, former part-time employment judge, Acas arbitrator and author.

Author: Kloss D

Tags COVID-19 disability discrimination equality act law

Occupational Health at Work December/January 2020/2021 (vol. 17/4) pp36-39

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