Acas Launches Guide to Help Businesses Understand New Equality Act

LONDON, August 12, 2010 - Acas, the employment relations service, has published new guidance to
assist businesses in understanding and preparing for the changes to the new
single Equality Act. The new Acas quick start guidance, 'The Equality Act -
what's new for employers?' demonstrates what these changes mean in practice.

John Taylor, chief executive of Acas, said: "Fairness in the workplace is
good business and motivates staff as well as improving effectiveness and
productivity. Last year Acas received around 32,000 calls on diversity and
discrimination related issues. Our new guide helps businesses and managers
understand what the changes mean in practice and what action employers will
need to take."

Changes have occurred in the following areas: third party harassment,
pre-employment health checks, power of employment tribunal recommendations
and pay secrecy.

The new act means employers are potentially liable if their staff are
harassed by people they don't employ such as external suppliers or customers.

From October employers should no longer send out pre-health
questionnaires with employment application packs. There are some exemptions,
for example around questions related to making reasonable adjustments for the
person in the selection process if they are disabled.

Employment tribunals (www.acas.org.uk/) can require employers
found guilty of discrimination to take steps to require them to change their
policies and practices to prevent further discrimination.

If a contract of employment requires employees to keep pay secret, the
Equality Act (www.acas.org.uk/equalityact) makes this requirement
unenforceable. An employer can still require employees to keep pay rates
confidential from others outside the workplace, such as competitors.

The new changes come into effect from October and so it is imperative
that businesses understand the changes which will impact them, and have
reviewed and updated current policies by this date. The new quick start
guidance is available to download on the Acas website, along with a table
that provides a snapshot of where changes and new areas have been added.

About Acas

Acas' aim is to improve organisations and working life through better
employment relations. It provides information, advice, staff training (
obs.acas.org.uk/) such as training explains current legislation
related to employment law and a range of services working with employers and
employees to prevent or resolve problems and improve performance. It is an
independent statutory body governed by a council consisting of the Acas chair
and employer, trade union and independent members. This can be found at the
Acas website.

    For more information about Acas or this PR, please contact:

    Lou Owen
    Media and Marketing Officer
    Acas National
    Euston Tower
    286 Euston Road
    NW1 3JJ
    +44-(0)20-7271-3920

www.acas.org.uk

For more information about Acas or this PR, please contact: Lou Owen, Media and Marketing Officer, Acas National, Euston Tower, 286 Euston Road, NW1 3JJ, +44-(0)20-7271-3920