ianstone
10-01-2010, 03:28 PM
Death of the office joke: Coalition enacts Harriet's PC equality law which means ANYONE can sue for ANYTHING that offends them
By Daily Mail Reporter (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporter)
Last updated at 3:46 PM on 1st October 2010
Comments (488) (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1316837/Employers-face-equality-law-nightmare-Coalition-pushes-ahead-Harriet-Harmans-Act.html#comments)
Add to My Stories (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1316837/Employers-face-equality-law-nightmare-Coalition-pushes-ahead-Harriet-Harmans-Act.html)
New equality laws masterminded by Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman have come into force today, threatening to create a political correctness minefield for recession-hit businesses.
Under the Act, vegans, teetotallers and atheists are to be given the same protection against discrimination as religious groups while gipsies and travellers will get special favours because of the 'many socio-economic disadvantages' they face.
There is also a provision which extends protection from third party harassment, meaning employers have a responsibility to shield their staff, where possible, from abuse by customers.
This has led to fears that bosses could be sued for jokes or comments that staff overhear and find offensive - even if it is not directed at or about them.
The Act, which ministers claim will help stamp out pay discrimination, have been slammed by employer groups who claim it will cost £189million to implement.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/01/article-1316837-0B3CD6E7000005DC-717_224x560.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/01/article-1316837-0B6B75AC000005DC-953_224x560.jpg
Equal measures: Home Secretary Theresa May has pushed ahead with 90 per cent of the Equality Act championed by Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman
The Coalition has pressed ahead with 90 per cent Ms Harman's Equality Act, including a measure to stop pay secrecy clauses being used to hide unfair differences between what men and women are paid.
From today the law - which was first passed by Parliament in April - will be changed so that men and women in all firms are allowed to discuss and compare their salaries.
But employer groups warned the new laws will cause a red tape nightmare at a time when businesses are already struggling with the recession.
In other measures, new powers for employment tribunals will mean those found guilty of discrimination can face sweeping orders to change their policies, rather than just being hit for compensation in individual cases.
More...
Bonfire of the benefits to save £9billion: Duncan Smith wins his battle with the Treasury over 'universal credit' (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1316724/Bonfire-benefits-save-9bn-Duncan-Smith-wins-battle-Treasury.html)
Women drivers facing higher insurance premiums because of EU equality laws (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1316628/Women-drivers-facing-higher-insurance-premiums-madness--woman.html)
And firms will be banned from asking job applicants about their health, while new protections for disabled people will make it easier for staff who have taken a large number of sick days or who look after elderly relatives to win unfair dismissal cases.
The Act will also make is easier for staff to claim they were discriminated against because of disability because they no longer have to prove they were treated less favourably than a non-disabled colleague.
David Frost, the director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce said: At a time when the Government is trying to create jobs in the private sector, this legislation will put people off for fear of getting it wrong'.
Home Secretary Theresa May, who is also minister for women and equality, said: 'In these challenging economic times it's more important than ever for employers to make the most of all the talent available.
SOME OF THE EQUALITY ACT PROVISIONS...
Vegans, teetotallers and atheists given the same protection against discrimination as religious groups
Churches forced to hire homosexuals and transsexuals against the tenets of their faith when employing staff under planned Labour equality laws
Gipsies and travellers to get special favours because of the 'many socio-economic disadvantages' they face
Fire chiefs forced to prioritise the poor when drawing up fire fighting plans as poorer areas need better cover because they tend to suffer from a greater number of fires owing to the worse state of their homes and a lack of smoke alarms
Fears that bosses could be sued for jokes or comments that staff overhear and find offensive under 'third party harassment' provisions
What's still being discussed....
Plans to force local authorities to discriminate in favour of the poor in order to narrow income inequalities
‘Affirmative action’ plan to allow firms to explicitly discriminate in favour of women and ethnic minority candidates
'When a company reflects the society it serves, it's better for the employer, the employees and the customers, so being a woman should never be a barrier to being treated fairly at work.
'From today the gagging clauses that stop people discussing their pay with their colleagues will be unenforceable, allowing women and men to find out if they're being paid unfairly.'
One employment lawyer warned that many large firms would find the ban on pay secrecy clauses 'unpalatable'.
Alex Mizzi, a solicitor at Dawsons LLP, said: 'Setting aside the fact that companies will view this as yet more red tape, bonuses and salaries are hugely sensitive for the vast majority of businesses.
'We know full well that a bonus can differentiate wildly from person to person, irrespective of seniority, and employers will have to be mindful of that when the Christmas bonus season gets into full swing.'
Tory and Lib Dem ministers are still arguing about whether to implement Miss Harman’s notorious plans to force local authorities to discriminate in favour of the poor in order to narrow income inequalities.
The plans were hailed as ‘socialism in a single clause’ when Miss Harman unveiled them last year.
But a Whitehall source said: ‘The Tories felt they went too far and the Lib Dems believed they didn’t go far enough. Discussions are continuing on whether to implement the clause.’
Also still up for discussion are Labour plans to allow firms to explicitly discriminate in favour of women and ethnic minority candidates - the kind of ‘affirmative action’ which has proved a political hot potato in the United States.
A Home Office source said the Act brings together nine different laws into a single piece of legislation, 'simplifying the law and reducing the administrative burden on businesses'.
The Government will announce 'in due course' its plans for the remaining parts of the Act, he said.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission welcomed the Act. Its interim chief executive, Helen Hughes, said: 'It's more than just an Act.
'Simplifying equality legislation and extending protection to a wide range of groups that face discrimination will help Britain become a fairer society, improve public services, and help business perform well.'
Banning the use of pre-employment questionnaires under the new Equality Act could make it easier for veterans who have been recently disabled in the line of duty to get work, she said.
And protecting young mothers from discrimination in school or college could mean they finish their education rather than drop out'
Ms Hughes added: 'It is also a reminder that treating people fairly protects organisations from costly discrimination claims.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1316837/Employers-face-equality-law-nightmare-Coalition-pushes-ahead-Harriet-Harmans-Act.html#ixzz118YceHEt
By Daily Mail Reporter (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/home/search.html?s=y&authornamef=Daily+Mail+Reporter)
Last updated at 3:46 PM on 1st October 2010
Comments (488) (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1316837/Employers-face-equality-law-nightmare-Coalition-pushes-ahead-Harriet-Harmans-Act.html#comments)
Add to My Stories (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1316837/Employers-face-equality-law-nightmare-Coalition-pushes-ahead-Harriet-Harmans-Act.html)
New equality laws masterminded by Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman have come into force today, threatening to create a political correctness minefield for recession-hit businesses.
Under the Act, vegans, teetotallers and atheists are to be given the same protection against discrimination as religious groups while gipsies and travellers will get special favours because of the 'many socio-economic disadvantages' they face.
There is also a provision which extends protection from third party harassment, meaning employers have a responsibility to shield their staff, where possible, from abuse by customers.
This has led to fears that bosses could be sued for jokes or comments that staff overhear and find offensive - even if it is not directed at or about them.
The Act, which ministers claim will help stamp out pay discrimination, have been slammed by employer groups who claim it will cost £189million to implement.
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/01/article-1316837-0B3CD6E7000005DC-717_224x560.jpg
http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/10/01/article-1316837-0B6B75AC000005DC-953_224x560.jpg
Equal measures: Home Secretary Theresa May has pushed ahead with 90 per cent of the Equality Act championed by Labour deputy leader Harriet Harman
The Coalition has pressed ahead with 90 per cent Ms Harman's Equality Act, including a measure to stop pay secrecy clauses being used to hide unfair differences between what men and women are paid.
From today the law - which was first passed by Parliament in April - will be changed so that men and women in all firms are allowed to discuss and compare their salaries.
But employer groups warned the new laws will cause a red tape nightmare at a time when businesses are already struggling with the recession.
In other measures, new powers for employment tribunals will mean those found guilty of discrimination can face sweeping orders to change their policies, rather than just being hit for compensation in individual cases.
More...
Bonfire of the benefits to save £9billion: Duncan Smith wins his battle with the Treasury over 'universal credit' (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1316724/Bonfire-benefits-save-9bn-Duncan-Smith-wins-battle-Treasury.html)
Women drivers facing higher insurance premiums because of EU equality laws (http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1316628/Women-drivers-facing-higher-insurance-premiums-madness--woman.html)
And firms will be banned from asking job applicants about their health, while new protections for disabled people will make it easier for staff who have taken a large number of sick days or who look after elderly relatives to win unfair dismissal cases.
The Act will also make is easier for staff to claim they were discriminated against because of disability because they no longer have to prove they were treated less favourably than a non-disabled colleague.
David Frost, the director-general of the British Chambers of Commerce said: At a time when the Government is trying to create jobs in the private sector, this legislation will put people off for fear of getting it wrong'.
Home Secretary Theresa May, who is also minister for women and equality, said: 'In these challenging economic times it's more important than ever for employers to make the most of all the talent available.
SOME OF THE EQUALITY ACT PROVISIONS...
Vegans, teetotallers and atheists given the same protection against discrimination as religious groups
Churches forced to hire homosexuals and transsexuals against the tenets of their faith when employing staff under planned Labour equality laws
Gipsies and travellers to get special favours because of the 'many socio-economic disadvantages' they face
Fire chiefs forced to prioritise the poor when drawing up fire fighting plans as poorer areas need better cover because they tend to suffer from a greater number of fires owing to the worse state of their homes and a lack of smoke alarms
Fears that bosses could be sued for jokes or comments that staff overhear and find offensive under 'third party harassment' provisions
What's still being discussed....
Plans to force local authorities to discriminate in favour of the poor in order to narrow income inequalities
‘Affirmative action’ plan to allow firms to explicitly discriminate in favour of women and ethnic minority candidates
'When a company reflects the society it serves, it's better for the employer, the employees and the customers, so being a woman should never be a barrier to being treated fairly at work.
'From today the gagging clauses that stop people discussing their pay with their colleagues will be unenforceable, allowing women and men to find out if they're being paid unfairly.'
One employment lawyer warned that many large firms would find the ban on pay secrecy clauses 'unpalatable'.
Alex Mizzi, a solicitor at Dawsons LLP, said: 'Setting aside the fact that companies will view this as yet more red tape, bonuses and salaries are hugely sensitive for the vast majority of businesses.
'We know full well that a bonus can differentiate wildly from person to person, irrespective of seniority, and employers will have to be mindful of that when the Christmas bonus season gets into full swing.'
Tory and Lib Dem ministers are still arguing about whether to implement Miss Harman’s notorious plans to force local authorities to discriminate in favour of the poor in order to narrow income inequalities.
The plans were hailed as ‘socialism in a single clause’ when Miss Harman unveiled them last year.
But a Whitehall source said: ‘The Tories felt they went too far and the Lib Dems believed they didn’t go far enough. Discussions are continuing on whether to implement the clause.’
Also still up for discussion are Labour plans to allow firms to explicitly discriminate in favour of women and ethnic minority candidates - the kind of ‘affirmative action’ which has proved a political hot potato in the United States.
A Home Office source said the Act brings together nine different laws into a single piece of legislation, 'simplifying the law and reducing the administrative burden on businesses'.
The Government will announce 'in due course' its plans for the remaining parts of the Act, he said.
The Equality and Human Rights Commission welcomed the Act. Its interim chief executive, Helen Hughes, said: 'It's more than just an Act.
'Simplifying equality legislation and extending protection to a wide range of groups that face discrimination will help Britain become a fairer society, improve public services, and help business perform well.'
Banning the use of pre-employment questionnaires under the new Equality Act could make it easier for veterans who have been recently disabled in the line of duty to get work, she said.
And protecting young mothers from discrimination in school or college could mean they finish their education rather than drop out'
Ms Hughes added: 'It is also a reminder that treating people fairly protects organisations from costly discrimination claims.'
Read more: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-1316837/Employers-face-equality-law-nightmare-Coalition-pushes-ahead-Harriet-Harmans-Act.html#ixzz118YceHEt