Resources on protected characteristics
This section provides a range of documents on age, religion and belief, sexual orientation, pregnancy and maternity and gender reassignment equality issues. These are all areas that have not been covered or fully covered by previous equality duties.
The purpose of the information is to assist public authorities in their work on implementing the equality duty. The documents can be found according to the strand or protected characteristic.
Age resources from the Commission
General information on the Commission's commitment to reducing age discrimination
Advice and guidance on age discrimination
This section of the site is about age discrimination and how and where it may affect you.
The under-pensioned: disabled people and people from ethnic minorities (PDF)
This research examines the likely future pension incomes of disabled people and people from ethnic minorities.
Older people inside and outside the labour market: a review. (PDF)
This report undertakes a review of older people both inside and outside the labour market at different life stages.
Age resources from ACAS
This booklet describes the Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006 and provides guidance on how to implement them.
Age resources from Age Positive
This page provides guidance, advice booklets, case studies, research and statistical information about older workers.
Age diversity in the downturn
This is a summary of an international conference which highlights the business benefits of creative approaches to age management.
Survey of employers' policies, practices and preferences relating to age.
The study establishes the extent to which current employment policies and practices accord with equal opportunity with respect to age.
Young people have asked us these questions.
The Commission answers some of the common questions that young people asked about equality issues.
Age resources from Runnymede/the Centre for Policy on Ageing
The Future Ageing of the Ethnic Minority Population (PDF)
Age resources from Stonewall
Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people in Later Life(PDF)
This survey asked Lesbian, Gay and Bisexual people about their experiences and expectations of getting older.
Religion and belief resources from the Commission
General information on the Commission's commitment to reducing religion and belief discrimination
Religion and belief: your rights
Find out more about your legal rights and what to do if you are being discriminated against on grounds of religion or belief.
Religion or belief: identifying issues and priorities research report (PDF)
Integration in the workplace (PDF)
Research report on emerging employment practice on age, sexual orientation and religion or belief equality.
Review of equality statistics (PDF)
Research report which sets out a range of equality statistics.
Religion and belief resources from the Employers Forum on Belief
Religious Diversity in the Workplace (PDF)
This guide provides a general overview of best practice for employers in the area of religion and belief.
Religion and belief resources from the Citizens Advice Bureau
Discrimination because of religion or belief
Advice and guidance on religion or belief discrimination in England.
Religion and belief resources from ACAS
Religion or belief and the workplace
Guidance for employers and employees on religion or belief in the workplace
Management handling of sexual orientation, religion.
This report examines the impact of management handling of sexual orientation, religion and belief at work.
Sexual orientation and religion or belief discrimination in the workplace. (PDF)
This research report explores the impact of the Employment Equality (Sexual orientation and religion and belief) Regulations 2003.
Research report exploring the impact of the Employment Equality (Sexual orientation and religion and belief) Regulations 2003.
Religion and belief resources from Business Link
Practical advice for businesses on religion or belief equality
Sexual orientation resources from the Commission
Beyond Tolerance: making sexual orientation a public matter
This report explores how to tackle discrimination and disadvantage faced by lesbian, gay and bisexual people. It sets out what organisations need to focus on to address the changes required.
Moving Forward: putting sexual orientation in the public domain (PDF)
This report considers the case for recognising sexual orientation as an integral part of the public equalities agenda. It assesses the implications of asking people about their sexual orientation.
Estimating the size and composition of lesbian, gay and bisexual population in Britain (PDF)
This report explores ways of measuring the lesbian, gay and bisexual population of Great Britain for which there is no currently reliable estimate.
Sexual orientation explored: a study of identity, attraction, behaviour and attitudes in 2009 (PDF)
This study explores the nature of sexual orientation, to capture changing public attitudes and to investigate the impact of disadvantage experienced by lesbian, gay or bisexual people.
Sexual Orientation Research Review 2008 (PDF)
This report reviews the evidence available on sexual orientation. It provides an up to date and comprehensive picture of evidence relating to lesbian, gay and bisexual people.
Review of Equality Statistics (PDF)
The report examines the extent to which data are available for sex, ethnicity/race, disability, religion or belief, age, sexual orientation, and socio-economic status.
Equality statistics in practice at a local level (PDF)
This reports studies what equality statistics public bodies collect and use, and how they use data in policies and practices relating to equality and human rights
The experiences of lesbian, gay and bisexual staff and students in higher education (PDF)
This research explores LGBT staff and students experiences of higher education institutions
This report examines good practice in recruitment, promotion or advancement at work based on age, sexual orientation and religion or belief.
Sexual orientation resources from ACAS
Management handling of sexual orientation, religion.
This report examines the impact of management handling of sexual orientation, religion and belief at work.
Sexual orientation and religion or belief discrimination in the workplace. (PDF)
This research report explores the impact of the Employment Equality (Sexual orientation and religion and belief) Regulations 2003.
Research report exploring the impact of the Employment Equality (Sexual orientation and religion and belief) Regulations 2003.
Sexual orientation and the workplace (PDF)
A guide for employers and employees on sexual orientation equality at work.
Sexual orientation resources from Age Concern/Help the Aged
Over the rainbow, but not over the hill
Report summary of a conference for older lesbian, gay men, bisexual and transgender people.
Sexual orientation resources from the Scottish Executive
Improving Policy and Practice for LGBT People (PDF)
This booklet provides guidance for local authorities in Scotland on how to improve policy and practice in relation to lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender people.
Get involved more with local communities
These web pages are for lesbian, gay and bisexual people on how they can get involved in their local community and with local public services.
A guide to help employers and service providers explain to their staff and service users why monitoring information is being collected. It sets out why a range of data such as age, gender, sexual orientation and belief may now be requested, and what the benefit is.
Homophobic Bullying in Britain`s Schools, The Teacher`s Report (PDF)
This report analyses feedback from teachers and non-teaching staff about their experiences of homophobic bullying of pupils in their schools and the inclusion of sexual orientation issues in their classrooms.
Prescription for Change: Lesbian and Bisexual Women`s Health Check (PDF)
This guide explores the specific health needs of lesbian women through a national survey.
Homophobic Hate Crime: The Gay British Crime Survey 2008 (PDF)
This research explores the prevalence of homophobic hate crime and the response of the criminal justice system.
Homophobic Hate Crimes and Hate Incidents (PDF)
This paper explores definitions of homophobic hate crime and hate incidents; gaps, weaknesses and trends in data sources; the prevalence and impact of homophobic hate crime, and the barriers faced when reporting homophobic hate crimes.
Blow the Whistle on Gay Hate (PDF)
This guide sets out why homophobic incidents should be reported and how this should be done.
Religion and sexual orientation: how to manage relations in the workplace
This guide helps employers and service delivery organisations manage potential conflicts with confidence.
Stonewall.
Monitoring: how to monitor sexual orientation in the workplace
This guide gives employers the practical tools they need to begin monitoring sexual orientation. Published by Stonewall.
Bullying: preventing the bullying and harassment of gay employees
This guide equips organisations with the resources they need to understand the nature of anti-gay bullying and harassment, the legal obligation for employers and the impact this type of discrimination can have on individual staff members.
Sexual Orientation: The Equality Act Made Simple
This guide explains what the law says organisations should do when it comes to lesbian, gay and bisexual staff, customers and service users. Published by Stonewall 2012.
This guide is a plain English resource for individuals on how and why to hold public bodies to account on the public sector equality duty. Published by Stonewall 2012.
Sexual orientation resources from the TUC
LGBT Equality in the Workplace(PDF)
A guide for union negotiators on lesbian, gay, bisexual and trans issues.
Sexual orientation resources from LGBT Youth Scotland
Sexual orientation resources from Each.
Ten things you can do to challenge homophobia (PDF)
Factsheet on taking action against homophobia
Sexual orientation resources from the Department of Health
Sexual Orientation: A Practical guide for the NHS
This document gives practical advice to enable NHS organizations to address their responsibilities relating to sexual orientation and employment or healthcare delivery.
Sexual orientation resources from the NHS
This website explains the health issues that affect you if you're gay, lesbian or bisexual and provides practical advice on how to stay in good health.
Sexual orientation resources from the Equity Partnership
Bradford and District LGB Health Needs Assessment (PDF)
This report explores the health and well-being needs of lesbian, gay and bisexual people and their experiences of accessing health services in the Bradford and District area.
Pregnancy and maternity resources from the Commission
Guidance on managing new and expectant parents
A comprehensive online toolkit which helps employers manage pregnant employees, expectant parents and new parents. The guide covers a range of subjects, including health and safety, maternity and paternity leave and pay, adoption and other types of leave, and arrangements for return to work.
Case study: maternity mentoring scheme
The Scottish Parliamentary Corporate Body (SPCB) developed and piloted a maternity mentoring scheme in response to the Work and Families Act and the Gender Equality Duty. The scheme was developed and piloted with the aim of providing an enhanced level of support for women about to take maternity leave or returning from maternity leave.
Pregnancy and maternity resources from Directgov
Maternity and paternity rights in the workplace
Advice and guidance on maternity and paternity rights in the workplace. This website covers issues such as working when pregnant, statutory maternity leave and returning to work.
Online advice and guidance for parents or people who work and have child care responsibilities. It includes a question and answer section for both employers and employees. The guidance covers the following issues:-
- Working parents.
- Maternity rights.
- Adoption rights.
- Paternity leave and pay.
- Employment rights for fathers.
Pregnancy and maternity resources from the Health and Safety Executive
A guide for new and expectant mothers who work (PDF)
This guide explains what employers must do to ensure the health and safety of expectant mothers in the workplace. It explains the importance of risk assessments.
Gender reassignment resources from the Commission
Guidance on recruiting and supporting trans people
A comprehensive online toolkit to help employers successfully manage recruitment for trans applicants as well as gender transition in the workplace for existing employees.
This guidance has been produced to help public authorities in England, Scotland and Wales meet their equality duties and human rights obligations in the provision of goods, facilities and services to trans users and potential users. It has been designed as a how to guide for public authorities managers and front line staff of all levels and it is illustrated with good practice examples.
Trans research review (PDF)
This research review was commissioned to establish a clear picture of the recent and relevant evidence base on equality and discrimination in relation to trans people.
This project gathered information to assess the extent to which public bodies surveyed are aware of and are meeting their equality duties towards transsexual people; to identify the challenges and barriers that public bodies face in carrying out trans equality work and how they can be supported in overcoming these; and to collect and present case studies of good practice in relation to all transgender people.
Gender reassignment resources from ACAS
Online resource which provides advice and information on how to manage gender reassignment in the workplace.
Gender reassignment resources from the Department of Health
These briefings inform the delivery of appropriate services and support health and social care professionals in their everyday work with LGBT people by providing fundamental awareness and evidence of LGBT needs in relation to health.
Gender reassignment resources from the Gender Identity Research and Education Society
A guide to trans service users rights (PDF)
This publication explains your rights as a trans person when you access services in the NHS. It includes relevant legislation, regulations and good practice guidance relating to your care. It explains funding processes and waiting times, how to appeal against funding decisions and how to make appeals or complaints if you need to. It also suggests ways in which you can have a voice in your healthcare system.
This document explains the law and good practice with regard to gender variant, transsexual and transgender employees, and the issues that an employer has to address when employees propose to change their gender role.
Gender reassignment resources from Stonewall Scotland and the Scottish Transgender Alliance
Changing for the better (PDF)
This guide is a practical resource for organisations specifically wanting to ensure their workplaces are supportive and inclusive of their trans staff. It outlines employers legal obligations and examines the nature of antitrans discrimination and harassment, and the impact this type of discrimination can have on individual staff members, the working environment, productivity and an organisations external reputation.
Gender reassignment resources from the Equality Challenge Unit
Trans staff and students in higher education (revised 2010)
This guidance is aimed at staff in higher education institutions (HEIs), The guidance is designed as a resource for staff who are aware of or supporting a colleague or student who is, has or is considering transitioning to their preferred gender. It can also be used to increase staff awareness of gender identity issues and to inform the development of institutional policies and processes to support, and to combat discrimination against trans staff and students.
Gender reassignment resources from the Crown Prosecution Service
Policy for prosecuting cases of homophobic and transphobic hate crime (PDF)
This document explains the way in which the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) deals with cases involving homophobic or transphobic hate crime.
Guidance on prosecuting cases of homophobic and transphobic crime (PDF)
Practical guidance on how the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) will treat victims and witnesses of homophobic and transphobic crime.
Gender reassignment resources from the Department for Culture, Media and Sport
Transsexual people and sport: guidance for sporting bodies (PDF)
The guidance seeks to make individuals and governing bodies aware of the legal framework with regard to transsexual people and to provide some practical suggestions on good practice in this area.
Last Updated: 20 Oct 2015