Religious observance factsheet providing an overview on protection from religious discrimination.
Protection from discrimination
Discrimination on the grounds of religion or belief was first introduced under the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003. These regulations were repealed and replaced on 1 October 2010 by the Equality Act 2010, which contains equivalent provisions and affords the same legal protection.
“Religion or belief” is one of nine characteristics protected by the Equality Act and is defined as any religion, religious belief or philosophical belief. Therefore, protection extends beyond the better known religions and faiths to include humanism, pacifism, atheists and agnostics.
