Several conditions excluded from Equality Act protection
Further details of the upcoming Equality Act have surfaced
listing a number of physical and mental traits excluded from
employment protections.
Government published Equality Act 2010 (Disability) Regulations
guidelines outline conditions which have been excluded from
disability recognition, including:
- Addiction to alcohol, nicotine or any other substance
(unless the addiction was originally the result of administration
of medically prescribed drugs or other medical treatment).
- The following conditions: a tendency to set fires, a tendency
to steal, a tendency for physical or sexual abuse of other persons,
exhibitionism, and voyeurism.
- Allergic Rhinitis (hay fever) unless it aggravates another
condition.
In addition, tattoos and body piercings are excluded from being
seen as a "severe disfigurement" or have a "substantial adverse
effects" on the ability of the person concerned to carry out normal
day-to-day activities.
However, people certified by a consultant ophthalmologist as
blind, severely sight-impaired, sight-impaired or partially sighted
will be deemed to be disabled.
The Equality Act 2010 aims to streamline all existing
discrimination laws, including the Disability Discrimination Act
which prevents employers discriminating on the grounds of
disability.
Enforced from October this year, it will drastically change the
way employers treat certain members of staff and could open the
doors for increased employment claims from discriminated
employees.