Equality

What is happening

The ability to live and work without prejudice is a fundamental right regardless of your background, identity and experiences. Employees have a right not to be discriminated against or bullied in the workplace, and to have access to opportunities and equal working conditions and pay. One of UNISON’s main aims is to help workers fight for fairness and equality in the workplace and beyond.

Employees are protected against discrimination and unfair treatment by the Equality Act and relevant regulations in Northern Ireland. The Equality Act also requires public bodies to actively promote equality and eliminate discrimination - ‘the public sector equality duty’.

The Equality Act makes it unlawful for employers to treat you unfairly because of:

• age;
• disability;
• gender reassignment;
• marriage and civil partnership;
• pregnancy and maternity;
• race;
• religion or belief;
• sex;
• sexual orientation.

It is also unlawful for employers to have a rule, policy or practice that someone is less likely to be able to fulfil than other employees because of one of the reasons above.