The Equality Act 2010 came into force on 1 October 2010. It brings together and extends existing anti-discrimination legislation, including the Disability Discrimination Act 1995 (DDA).
Part of its purpose is to prevent discrimination because of, or arising from a disability, including discrimination by employers against disabled workers and job applicants, and those associated with disabled people.
Although you may not consider yourself to have a disability, workers with diabetes will often be protected.
The Act defines ’disability’ as a physical or mental impairment that has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on a person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Medical or other treatment and aids, which relieve or remove the effect of the impairment, are ignored when assessing whether the effect is substantial and long term.
Contact the Equality and Human Rights Commission, or your local Citizens Advice Bureau for more information.
Reviewed: October 2010
Next review date: April 2012