Employment experts from Wake Smith & Tofields are set to meet employers from across the region who are eager to learn more about the imminent arrival of the Equality Act 2010, the single biggest piece of discrimination legislation ever created in this country.
The event, taking place on 5 October, will include a range of legal experts from the firm's employment team and an experienced barrister from Kings Chambers, Leeds.
The Equality Act brings together disability, sex, race and other grounds of discrimination within one piece of legislation, aiming to reduce the burden on businesses. The main Act comes into effect on the 1 October, with further stages due to be introduced throughout 2011.
The event will address the key changes within the legislation and its effects on employers and their respective policies and procedures.
The new Act will strengthen protection against discrimination because of personal characteristics as well as far-reaching anti-discrimination measures.
This is expected to have implications past the recruitment strategies and selection processes of many businesses, so experts at the firm believe it is important for employers and HR departments to study the details and make sure they are following the laws vigilantly, so as to avoid disputes.
Mark Serby, partner at Wake Smith & Tofields said "The introduction of the Equality Act may cause a short term headache for employers , suppliers of goods and services and property owners, but as there will be just one piece of legislation to get to grips with it should, overall, make understanding the law easier long-term.
"Like all changes in employment law most employers and HR representatives should be quick to update their systems and procedures. For the private sector the challenge will be initially in looking at recruitment policies and making changes there and also in getting to grips, particularly with both significant and subtle changes in the area of disability discrimination.
"There are also some significant changes affecting public authorities in terms of their socio economic duties as well as strengthening of equal pay rights - but these are not coming into force yet and so the public sector still has to plan for full implementation but apply the current law, the sections of the Equality Act coming into force and watch for the timing of other provisions.
"At a time when the manufacturing industries are already under pressure they will need to make sure that they can demonstrate compliance with the Act in order to remain key suppliers to other businesses and to the public sector. There are defences which can be employed to allegations of discrimination, such as genuine occupational requirement, but to take advantage of the defences, the processes and procedures need to be right in the first place and this is a particular challenge when this sector, like others, is under economic pressure."
The event takes place on Tuesday 5 October 2010 from 1.30pm - 5.15pm at Sheffield United Football ground.
