June 2019
Employers should ensure, through appropriate policies, procedures and staff training, that employees are not treated differently because of their sexual orientation (or any other characteristic protected by discrimination law), particularly if it prevents them discussing their private lives with colleagues.
November 2010
Employers should be pleased to learn that, while employees should nonetheless be discouraged from commenting on a colleague’s sexual orientation, they benefit from a recent ruling which makes it more difficult for openly gay employees to claim discrimination or harassment if they are ‘outed’ at work. Legal Alert, November 2010.
eBooks
The Library provides full text access to a selection of key business and reference eBooks from leading publishers. eBooks are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users. If you are unable to access an eBook, please see our Help and support advice or contact library@icaew.com.
Discrimination
These ten sections of the chapter on employment cover discrimination - the Equality Act 2010 replaced all previous discrimination legislation. Discrimination on the basis of: age; disability; gender reassignment; marriage and civil partnership; pregnancy and maternity; race; religion and belief; sex; and sexual orientation is outlawed. In addition discrimination against people with criminal records, part-time workers, fixed-term workers and agency workers is also covered.
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.
Acas guidance
Advice, guidance and practical resources on a wide variety of recruitment topics for both employers and employees, produced by the
Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service, Acas. Acas is the employment relations service for England, Scotland and Wales offering practical, independent and impartial advice to employers, employees and their representatives.
Acas guidance and a range of practical resources on sexual orientation discrimination and the Equality Act 2010.
October 2016
Acas key guide offering an insight into how sexual orientation discrimination can occur in the workplace and how it can be dealt with.
Online articles
The Library provides access to leading business, finance and management journals. These journals are available to logged-in ICAEW members, ACA students and other entitled users subject to suppliers' terms of use.
Make sure you don't discriminate on sexual orientation grounds
The article provides an answer to a question on laws in Great Britain related to the discrimination of customers and employees in the hospitality industry based on their sexual orientation.
Pride and prejudice
The article reports on the homophobic abuse or discrimination against gay, lesbian and bi-sexual lawyers in the workplace in Great Britain. It mentions that despite the considerable efforts of the government to protect third sex lawyers, some still encounter discrimination.
Equality and diversity in the public services
This article focuses on the legislation, introduced in 2003, making it unlawful to discriminate on the grounds of sexual orientation . It explores the factors encouraging ‘good practice’ in sexual orientation equality work. It considers progress within the public services that have ‘pioneered’ sexual orientation equalities work. A challenge for HR practitioners is getting organisational commitment to sexual orientation work, which is still perceived within organisations as a ‘sensitive’ area.
Ruling on homophobic banter opens up a 'Pandora's attic'
The article discusses the court case English v. Thomas Sanderson Ltd. ruled by the British Court of Appeal in 2008. The court has held, by a majority, that homophobic banter amounts to unlawful harassment even when the victim's tormentors know he is not gay.
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
CIPD factsheets, Q&As and case law on sexual discrimination. Registration required to access content.
Equality and Human Rights Commission
Guidance from the EHRC on sexual orientation discrimination including different types of discrimination and circumstances when being treated differently due to sexual orientation is lawful
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
Guidance on addressing sexual discrimination in the workplace from the CIPD. Includes factsheets, Q&As and case law. This guidance also covers some aspects of marriage and civil partnership discrimination. Registration required to access content.
Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development
CIPD facsheet on sexual orientation discrimination and gender reassignment discrimination
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.