Home
>
Political
>
Employment Legislation: Proposed Employment Law Changes - To Take Effect 1 October 2005

Employment Legislation: Proposed Employment Law Changes - To Take Effect 1 October 2005

Proposed changes to the Sex Discrimination Act ("SDA") 1975 and the Equal Pay Act ("EPA") 1970 under the amended Equal Treatment Directive (2002/73/EC) will be implemented on 1 October 2005. To ensure that your company's policies comply with these proposed reforms please contact us at enquiries@rtcoopers.com.

The proposed changes to the law will be applicable to all employers and providers of vocational training:

As of 1 October 2005, there will be a new definition of indirect sex discrimination in employment matters and vocational training. Indirect sex discrimination will occur when an apparently neutral provision, criterion or practice that applies to all workers or applicants causes particular disadvantage to certain sections of women or men. To avoid or succeed against a complaint of indirect sex discrimination, an employer will have to justify that a provision, criterion, practice or policy that it employs, and which causes such disadvantage, meets a business aim and is an appropriate means of meeting this aim.

For the first time, there will be a cause of action under the SDA for harassment on the grounds of the complainant's sex. The new provision will apply to the areas of employment and vocational training only. New explicit provisions will be included to ensure that women are protected from discrimination on the grounds of pregnancy.

The geographical coverage in the SDA and EPA have been extended, so they now cover employees who work for British organisations outside Great Britain (GB) in relation to recruitment, terms and conditions, pay, promotion, transfers and dismissals.

An employer will have the right to refuse to offer a particular job to someone who was intending to undergo, was undergoing or had undergone gender reassignment. However, such a refusal must now be reasonable. The SDA protection will be extended to cover vocational guidance and unpaid practical work experience.

The SDA will be amended to prescribe an eight-week time limit for the employer or training organisation, for example, to return the questionnaire in cases of discrimination or harassment in employment and vocational training. The proposed changes to the law applicable to certain employers, certain providers of vocational training and those who appoint office holders:

An exception in the SDA, which permitted partnerships and trade unions to discriminate on grounds of sex in the provision of death and retirement benefits to their partners and members respectively, will be removed. There will now be further protection against discrimination for office holders.

Ministers of religion will now be protected by the SDA, not only where they are employees, but also where they are office holders. If you require further information contact us.

Email: enquiries@rtcoopers.com

? RT COOPERS, 2005. This Briefing Note does not provide a comprehensive or complete statement of the law relating to the issues discussed nor does it constitute legal advice. It is intended only to highlight general issues. Specialist legal advice should always be sought in relation to particular circumstances.

Rosanna Cooper is a partner in RT Coopers Solicitors a full service law firm in London. The firm specialises in employment law including advising employers and employees on redundancies, dismissals, discrimination, grievance and disciplinary procedures, suspensions and breach of contract claim. The firm represents clients before the employment tribunal.

whole house cleaning Deerfield ..

In The News:

Essential phone settings to enable before losing your device, including Find My network, location services and security features for iPhone and Android.

The Fox News AI Newsletter gives readers the latest AI technology advancements, covering the challenges and opportunities AI presents.

Cybersecurity research shows weak passwords remain a major threat, with simple patterns and number sequences putting millions of accounts at risk.

New Android malware BankBot YNRK silences phones, steals banking data and drains crypto wallets automatically. Learn how this advanced threat works.

FDA approves first human trial for Paradromics' brain-computer interface that could restore speech for paralyzed patients through neural technology.

New phishing platform QRR targets Microsoft 365 users across 1,000 domains in 90 countries. Learn how to spot fake login pages and protect your accounts.

OpenTable now uses AI to track your dining habits and share insights with restaurants. Learn what data they collect and how to protect your privacy.

Google's discontinued Nest thermostats still secretly upload home data to company servers despite losing smart features, raising serious privacy concerns.

New Android malware NGate steals NFC payment codes in real-time, allowing criminals to withdraw cash from ATMs without your card. Learn protection tips.

DoorDash confirms data breach exposing customer names, emails, addresses after social engineering attack. Learn how to protect yourself from scams.

Concerned about Google's AI scanning your Gmail? Learn how to disable Gemini features that access your emails, Drive files and Chat messages for privacy.

Google warns Android users about dangerous fake VPN apps hiding malware that steals passwords, banking details and personal data from phones and tablets.

Apple's digital passport feature lets iPhone users breeze through TSA checkpoints this holiday season using Digital ID technology at 250+ airports.

A new phishing scam targets family photos with fake "Cloud Storage Full" alerts. Criminals steal credit card information through fake sites. Learn protection tips.

South Korean scientists create ultra-thin fabric muscles that turn clothes into robotic assistants, lifting 33 pounds while weighing under half an ounce.

Archer Aviation has acquired Hawthorne Airport for $126M to launch an LA air taxi network ahead of the 2028 Olympics, featuring AI-powered eVTOL operations and next-gen aviation tech.

Stay up to date on the latest AI technology advancements and learn about the challenges and opportunities AI presents now and for the future.

Fake AI apps disguised as "ChatGPT" and "DALL·E" are flooding app stores with dangerous malware that steals data and monitors users without detection.

Fake buyers demand specific vehicle reports from unknown sites to steal credit card information from car sellers, but warning signs can help identify these scams before paying.

Android users can now manage apps across multiple devices more easily with Google Play Store's updated remote uninstall button in the latest update.

NASA's Perseverance rover discovers shiny metallic rock on Mars that could be a meteorite from an ancient asteroid, containing high levels of iron and nickel.

Holiday scams spike during Black Friday and Cyber Monday as criminals exploit your leaked personal data. Learn how to protect yourself from fake stores and phishing.

Commerce Department proposes TP-Link router ban over Chinese security risks. Learn how this potential prohibition could affect your home network and devices.

Hyundai AutoEver America suffered a data breach affecting 2,000 current and former employees, exposing names, Social Security numbers and driver's license information.

Washington court rules automated license plate reader images are public records, even when stored by vendors like Flock Safety, setting precedent for transparency.

Employment Legislation: Proposed Employment Law Changes - To Take Effect 1 October 2005

Political