Question

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what steps her Department is taking to help tackle workplace discrimination.

The Equality Act 2010 provides protection against discrimination, harassment and victimisation in the workplace and in wider society.

The government has introduced and supports a number of schemes and initiatives to support those who have faced discrimination in the workplace. Among these are the Equality Advisory and Support Service (EASS) and the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas).

The EASS is a government helpline established to provide free bespoke advice and in-depth support to individuals with discrimination concerns. You can contact the EASS via their website, which you can access here: http://www.equalityadvisoryservice.com/, by telephone on 0808 8000082 or text phone on 0808 8000084. The EASS is able to intervene on an individual’s behalf with a service provider to help resolve an issue. The EASS can also advise people who wish to take their complaint further on their options.

The Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service (Acas) provides authoritative and impartial advice free to employees or employers in relation to employment discrimination issues via their website. and telephone helpline 0300 123 1100 or text relay service 18001 0300 123 1100. You can access the website here: http://www.acas.org.uk. Acas also provides employees and employers with Early Conciliation to help them resolve/settle their workplace dispute without going to court.

The Employment Rights Bill, introduced to Parliament on 10 October 2024, contains robust measures to safeguard working people, including protections from sexual harassment, employer action plans covering gender and menopause, and improved dismissal protections for new and expecting mothers.