Equalities
We previously invited general comments on the Equality Act. To make things simpler, the measures in the Equality Act have been divided into the eight themes, and this page is now closed for comment. To comment, click here. All the comments received below will be considered in the Equalities challenge process.
The Equality Act is a very important peice of legislation that protects individuals and gives them dignity, respect and equality. If business is saying that in order to cut the defecit we need to change the Equality legislation and the processes this enshrines upon us to demonstrate equal opportunities then indeed we have taken a giant step back in time. We as a country should be proud of our democracy and freedoms not erode them due to ill judged decision to find efficiency savings by hurting and discriminating the people that society should protect. I disagree the Equality Act must stay and it provides an assurance process that we are a society free from bias and prejudice.
The Equalities Act should not be scrapped and should be left as it is. To scrap it or simplify it would be a retrograde step. Equality legislation was hard won and has conributed to significant changes in attitude and behaviour, better opportunities and given people a sense of pride and dignity.
I’ve never heard anything so absurd as to get rid of the Equalities Act. Should we go back in time where women were in the kitchen and couldn’t vote, people with disabilities were treated as freaks and various ethnicities slaves. Talk about going backwards. Keep the act as it is.
Scrapping the Equality Act would be very detrimental to the life chances of people with protected characteristics, would lead to a massive increase in discrimination against them resulting in significant damage to the UK economy and would place the UK in conflict with its own stated policies on improving the life chances of disabled people and, perhaps more importantly, the European Convention of Human Rights. Until UK businesses focus on ability not disability and diversity not difference, there is a need for the Equality Act. It is of great concern to me, that [text edited] the Goverment should be considering such a retrograde step as the abolition of equality legislation. [text deleted]
The socio economic duty should be strengthened to reduce the income gap between the best paid and the worst paid. This is because there is a correlation between lower income inequality and better social outcomes (drugs, obesity, violence, stress) in societies with less income inequality than our own (cf ‘The Spirit Level’)
The regulations should be left as they are. It has taken too long for the Equalities Act to be enacted and it has the potential to level up the playing field for many individuals whoa re disadvantaged due to their race,sex,disability etc, none of which are under the control of the indivudual. It benefits society to treat people decently.
Retain the socio-economic duty which would make a material difference to reducing inequality with its corrosive effects on our country as set out in that excellent book The Spirit Level.
Reduction of the responsibility of employers and organisations both in the public and private sector could cause unacceptable damage to the effectiveness of the Equality Act. We have a long way to go in combating disadvantage and unfair discrimination to women, gay and lesbian people, members of ethnic minorities, and those who are disabled. The legislation and means of enforcing it need strengthening.
Scrapping the Equality Act will send a clear message that this government doesn’t care about combatting discrimination. It will take the country and society backwards, to the times when it was acceptable for a black, gay or disabled person to suffer in poverty and have no hope and no future.
The Act should be strengthened by reinstating the Socio-ecenomic duty which was cut from the Act in Nov 2010. There is lots of evidence that shows all of society benefits from a more equal society.
If anything the equalities act needs strengthening. As a disabled person I find that I still face daily discrimination in the provision of services. For instance out of the 9 pubs in my town only 2 are suitable for wheelchair users. Only two have toilets that are accessible for wheelchair users. This is discrimination. licensees will tell me they can’t afford to put in disabled toilets and this seems to be accepted by many. however, imagine if a woman went to use the toilet in a pub and was told there were no toilets for women because the licensee couldn’t afford to put in women toilets. Most people would consider that as unacceptable so why is it OK to discriminate against disabled people like that. Its not just pubs, so many public places are still inaccessible, so many places still can’t give disabled people service. Its bad no, what would it be like if the equalities act was removed.
There is also the matter of jobs. Disabled people are now being told by the government they have to find work and yet we already find many employers don’t comply with the legislation. How bad will it be if the legislation isn’t there or is watered down. We’re being removed from Incapacity benefits and so the equalities act is more vital than ever.
That is a super-peachy-keen post. Thanks for really blathering on like that! Seriously, I don’t think I could have spent more effort wishing for something heavy to fall on me to erase that nonsense from my mind!
Minority groups need legal protection but more emphasis on changing perceptions of inequality need to be made. education about differences within society should be a part of the education system from an early age.
The fact that the government considers the Equality Act to be red tape shows their total disregard for equality and stamping out discrimination. Discrimination still takes place even with this Act in place, so imagine how much more widespread it would be if it was scrapped. Getting rid of this important piece of legislation would be disastrous.
I think we should keep the act.
I have taken a number of actions under the DDA in the past and it is a complex and stressful activity. There is no real support to help disabled people take action, so the law doesn’t work as businesses know this and don’t care. From that point of view you might as well scrap the legislation.
However, I would like certain parts to be made mandatory and enforced by a new boy set up comprising disabled people, who could currently be unemployed, hence benefit savings can be made.
I’d like to see it made mandatory for businesses where the public visit to have a Access Statement that their staff all know and operate. That could be produced by themselves or with professional support.
It is impossible for all businesses to be fully compliant withe the requirements of the DDA/Equaiity Act, but this way
would make them think more and take action to be more accessible.
I’d also like to see it made mandatory to have an access audit carried out by a professional access auditor on a regular basis for businesses of a certain size and that there be short ( 3 years) action plans for access improvement developed and actioned. The audits would be repeated every 3 years, so some of the improvements should have been made.
This latter aspect will be more difficult to action as there is a lack of qualified access auditors and costs would be prohibitive, but the former proposal to produce an access statement to which a business operates is achievable.
Government to admit that major structural and institutional inequality exists and that without this being admitted and accepted and government offering a lead in how it is eliminated, the carousel of new laws for old will simply remain that – a carousel.
I would make the term ‘reasonable adjustments’ at work for disabled people more plain, what is reasonable for one company might not be reasonable for another (thier income may not allow for many adjustments). large companies should do more to encourage disabled people in the work place. disability awareness days should be promoted, especially in larger companies.
To improve these regulations, the government should reinstate and strengthen the socio-economic duty, which was part of the original legislation, but dropped by the Equalities Minister in November 2010.
The socio-economic duty recognised the importance of reducing the income gap – and the role of public bodies in bringing about that change – and am extremely disappointed when it was abandoned
Restore the socio-economic duty, leave everything else as it is. This legislation is about our rights and responsibilities as individuals and as a society that takes fairness seriously enough to put legislative ‘muscle’ behind it.