Protected Characteristics

Age
Where this is referred to, it refers to a person belonging to a particular age (e.g 32 year-olds) or range of ages (e.g 18 to 30 year-olds).

Disability
A person has a disability if s/he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long term adverse effect on that person’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.

Gender reassignment
The process of transitioning from one gender to another.

Marriage and civil partnership
Marriage is defined as a ‘union between a man and a woman’. Same-sex couples can have their relationships legally recognised as ‘civil partnerships’.
Civil partners must be treated the same as married couples on a wide range of legal matters.

Pregnancy and maternity
Pregnancy is the condition of being pregnant or expecting a baby. Maternity refers to the period after the birth, and is linked to maternity leave in the employment context. In the non-work context, protection against maternity discrimination is for 26 weeks after giving birth, and this includes treating a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding.

Race
Refers to the protected characteristic of Race. It refers to a group of people defined by their race, colour, and nationality (including citizenship) ethnic or national origins.

Religion and belief
Religion has the meaning usually given to it but belief includes religious and philosophical beliefs including lack of belief (e.g atheism). Generally, a belief should affect your life choices or the way you live for it to be included in the definition.

Sex
A man or a woman.

Sexual orientation
Whether a person’s sexual attraction is towards their own sex, the opposite sex or to both sexes.