Having knowledge of the term “protected characteristic” is important for any business professional. Protected characteristic is a term that refers to certain characteristics that employers are legally forbidden from considering when making decisions about employment. These characteristics include race, age, gender, disability, religious belief, sexual orientation, and more.
What Are Protected Characteristics?
Protected characteristics are those which are covered by the UK’s Equality Act of 2010, and describe specific physical and mental traits. This law makes it illegal to discriminate against individuals on the basis of their gender, disability, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, and sexual orientation.
It is important to note that the protected characteristics are not limited to hiring decisions. In addition to this, employers are legally forbidden from discriminating against employees in areas such as promotion, salary and benefits, training, job duties, and termination, on the basis of any of these characteristics.
Why Does This Matter?
The concept of protected characteristics is based on the idea that everyone should be provided equal opportunities regardless of their identity. When employers base decisions on characteristics like cultural background, disabilities, or marital status, it can lead to barriers in the workplace. These include difficulty in obtaining and keeping a job, or lack of progress in their career due to their specific characteristics.
It is important for businesses to make sure they understand and adhere to the rules and regulations of the Equality Act in order to protect their employees from any negative consequences. Not only is this important to guarantee fairness in the workplace, it is also necessary to protect companies from any legal action that may arise due to discrimination.
Conclusion
Understanding the concept of protected characteristics is essential for any business professional. Not only is it essential to maintain fairness in the workplace and adhere to the regulations of the Equality Act, it is also important to protect companies from any legal action that may arise due to discrimination.