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Diversity law and regulations

An overview of the law concerning diversity and discrimination in the UK, with the latest case summaries and useful guidance.

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Legislation

The ICAEW Library holds numerous publications on discrimination law and subscribes to major legal databases. For information on using these resources, please contact the Library.
Industrial Cases Reports Express
  • The Incorporated Council of Law Reporting for England & Wales (ICLR)
Free case summaries involving employment law, discrimination and other subjects.
An overview of the Legal Services Act 2007
  • PDF (137kb)
  • ICAEW
An overview of the Legal Services Act 2007.
Equality Act 2010
  • UK Government
Read the full text of the UK's Equality Act 2010.
Legal Services Act 2007
  • GOV.UK
Full text of the Act as enacted and revised, with explanatory notes. The Act makes provision for the regulation of persons who carry on certain legal activities.
Terms of use

ICAEW accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided ‘as is’ with no warranty, express or implied, for the information provided within them. Please see the full copyright and disclaimer notice.

Guidance

Selected links to guidance on diversity in the workplace.
Employers: preventing discrimination
  • 2023
  • GOV.UK
Details of employers' responsibilities, covering recruitment, pay and discrimination during employment.
Discrimination and the Equality Act 2010
  • 2020
  • Acas
Overview of the law regarding discrimination under the Equality Act 2010 and the nine protected characteristics.
Equality Act 2010
  • 2018
  • Equality and Human Rights Commission
Guidance on the Equality Act 2010 from the EHRC. Covers the purpose of the Equality Act and who it protects. EHRC Codes of Practice covering the Equality Act 2020 are also available; these provide detailed explanations of the provisions in the Act and apply the legal concepts to everyday situations.
Terms of use

ICAEW accepts no responsibility for the content on any site to which a hypertext link from this site exists. The links are provided ‘as is’ with no warranty, express or implied, for the information provided within them. Please see the full copyright and disclaimer notice.

Probate diversity data

All firms accredited for probate services are required to collect, report and publish diversity data about their employees. While this is a regulatory requirement, there are many benefits to focusing on diversity and inclusion.
Probate diversity data results
  • Article
  • Business Law
All firms accredited for probate services are required to collect, report and publish diversity data about their employees.
Diversity reporting FAQs
  • Helpsheets and support
  • Professional Standards Department
A list of frequently asked questions around the subject of diversity reporting in probate including requirements, statutory and social relevance and how ICAEW handles sensitivity of data.
ICAEW Probate Diversity Report 2023
  • Report
  • PDF (1,114kb)
  • ICAEW
This report sets out the results of diversity monitoring by ICAEW firms accredited for the reserved legal service of probate as of 31 March 2023. This report is produced and prepared by OMB Research, on behalf of ICAEW.
ICAEW Probate Diversity Statistics 2023
  • Report
  • PDF (755kb)
  • ICAEW
Data analysed by OMB Research.

Legal Alert

Legal Alert is a monthly checklist from Atom Content Marketing highlighting new and pending laws, regulations, codes of practice and rulings that could have an impact on your business.
New law: Employers face new duty to prevent harassment in the workplace
  • Article
  • 01 Dec 2023
  • Atom Content Marketing
Employers should be taking measures to comply with a new, additional duty to prevent sexual harassment in the workplace.
New guidance: New transgender and non-binary CIPD guidance launched for employers
  • Article
  • 01 Nov 2023
  • Atom Content Marketing
Employers will welcome new guidance from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) to help them manage transgender and non-binary equality, diversity and inclusion issues in the workplace.
New guidance: Acas issues guidance on reasonable adjustments for mental health
  • Article
  • 01 Jun 2023
  • Atom Content Marketing
Employers will welcome new Acas guidance to help them and their employees when considering reasonable adjustments for mental health at work.
New resource: Online help with employees’ disability/long-term health conditions
  • Article
  • 01 Dec 2022
  • Atom Content Marketing
Employers and managers will welcome a new online questionnaire that gives them free, tailored advice to help support and manage staff with a disability or a long-term health condition, whether they are off work or still working.
New case law: Employers take action to guard against potential discrimination claims based on employees’ gender-critical beliefs
  • Article
  • 01 Oct 2022
  • Atom Content Marketing
Employers are considering what they can do to guard against potential claims arising from employees’ gender-critical beliefs in the workplace, as legal disputes in this area hit the headlines.
New inquiry: Government considers new employment laws to protect and support menopausal workers
  • Article
  • 01 Oct 2021
  • Atom Content Marketing
Employers should monitor outcomes of a government inquiry ‘Menopause and the workplace’, which could lead to changes in the law to give menopausal workers, including those who do not identify as women, greater protection, support and employment rights.
New strategy: Government launches National Disability Strategy
  • Article
  • 01 Oct 2021
  • Atom Content Marketing
Disabled employees and their employers are checking out the details of the government’s new National Disability Strategy and associated developments and considering what changes they may need to introduce to improve the workplace for disabled workers.
New practice: Employers making redundancies as COVID-19 restrictions ease should beware inadvertent discrimination against disabled employees
  • Article
  • 01 Jun 2021
  • Atom Content Marketing
Employers considering redundancies as COVID restrictions ease should beware inadvertently discriminating either directly or indirectly against disabled employees when choosing who to let go and take care when considering whether they need to make ‘reasonable adjustments’ for disabled employees.
Disclaimer

These articles from Atom Content Marketing are for general guidance only, for businesses in the United Kingdom governed by the laws of England. Atom Content Marketing, expert contributors and ICAEW (as distributor) disclaim all liability for any errors or omissions.

All alerts

Industry press

The ICAEW Library & Information Service provides a hand-picked collection of industry press articles as a benefit of ICAEW membership. If you are unable to access an article, please see our Online resources troubleshooting or contact library@icaew.com.
Exclusive Why diverse teams reduce errors
  • Article
  • 01 Dec 2023
  • Heidi Grant, David Rock
Recent studies, including mock juries and simulated markets, reveal that diverse teams improve discussion, reduce errors, and excel in decision-making. Diverse teams promote constant re-examination of facts, objectivity, and careful information processing, preventing biases and errors. Gender and cultural diversity in leadership also correlate with increased innovation and new product development.
Exclusive The power of one: A memorial to Dr.Larzette Golden Hale (1920-2015)
  • Article
  • 01 Dec 2023
  • Brandi L.Holley, LaToya L.Flint
This paper memorializes a remarkable figure in accounting history and showcases the power of one individual to impact society. Although Dr. Larzette Golden Hale was the first Black female certified public accountant (CPA) to also earn a Ph.D. in accounting, her influence stretched far beyond these lofty accomplishments. Her life's work as an accounting educator is even more impressive considering the systemic obstacles to achievement faced by both Black people and women of the time.
Exclusive Women trust employers less than men
  • Article
  • 01 Dec 2023
  • Wenny Katzenstein, Ashley Reichheld, Emily Werner
The article discusses the reasons that women employees tend to trust the company they work for less than their male counterparts. The authors relate various ways in which women are treated differently than their male colleagues, even when it comes to equity and inclusion programs designed to redress such inequities. They outline three strategies that may help increase trust in female employees.
Exclusive Investment and career insights from women in asset management
  • Article
  • 01 Nov 2023
  • Erin Allen, Samantha Cleyn, Shannon Lewis, Bonnie Li, Asma Panjwani
Five women from BMO's Global Asset Management team provide insights from their paths into a career in asset management. Although they come from different career backgrounds, they have a mutual love of the pace, excitement and learning opportunities the industry offers. Here they share their top tips for success in asset management.
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