Equality, diversity and inclusion at work
Discover guidance and tools to help you review your current practices and take steps to build a more inclusive workplace.
Understanding equality, diversity and inclusion
Equality means treating everyone fairly and giving people the same opportunities, regardless of their differences.
Under UK law employers must:
- Comply with equal pay laws (opens in a new window), meaning men and women are paid equally for the same (or equivalent) roles
- Avoid discriminating against employees (opens in a new window) when hiring them, offering promotions and giving benefits
- Prevent and address harassment and discrimination in the workp(opens in a new window)lace through policies, training and leadership
Diversity means recognising and valuing peoples’ differences whether they are visible and non-visible. Differences can include an individual’s culture, background, and perspectives.
Inclusion means creating an environment where everyone feels welcome, respected, and empowered to contribute, regardless of their identity.
Protected characteristics
The Equality Act 2010 (opens in a new window) is an important piece of legislation that all employers need to know about. The law states that it is illegal to discriminate against someone directly or indirectly on the grounds of these nine protected characteristics:
- Age
- Disability
- Gender reassignment
- Marriage and civil partnership
- Pregnancy and maternity
- Race
- Religion or belief
- Sex
- Sexual orientation
The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (ACAS) has more information on indirect discrimination (opens in a new window).
Page last reviewed: 26th March 2025
