Partners and LLP members are protected by discrimination law and we help firms to understand their obligations to partners, members and employees and to take steps to minimize risk and safely navigate this area of law. We provide advice on specific issues as well as ongoing assistance with compliance.
Discrimination can take many forms: sexual harassment and discrimination in the City has been widely covered by the media but many discrimination claims are based on more subtle actions. As such it is important that firms are aware of potential pitfalls.
Under the Equality Act 2010, employees and partners are protected against discrimination on the grounds of:
- age
- disability
- gender reassignment
- marriage and civil partnership
- pregnancy and maternity
- race (which covers ethnic or national origin, nationality and colour)
- religion or belief
- sex
- sexual orientation
Discrimination can be classified as direct, indirect, harassment or victimization.
Our experience in the professional services and financial sectors makes us well placed to advise firms operating in these areas. Our aim is to help you avoid claims, or, if they are raised, resolve them discreetly and swiftly.
In every type of workplace discrimination may become an issue. We regularly advise on situations involving senior executives, hedge fund or private equity partners and partners in professional practices. We are very familiar with these sectors and the types of personalities involved. As such we provide targeted and effective advice.
How Fox & Partners can help…
- provide you with policies and equal and diversity training. Our training is designed to help our clients build a more inclusive culture, and prevent discrimination occurring. It also offers the benefit that if a partner, member or employee discriminates against a colleague, the first defence available to the firm is that they provided adequate training to seek to prevent such actions from occurring. Click here for an overview of our training.
- assist if an allegation of discrimination, victimisation or harassment is made
- provide advice on conducting a redundancy, disciplinary or other internal process in compliance with the law in this area
- help with your obligations during recruitment and promotion
- advise on disability discrimination, including your obligation to make reasonable adjustments for an employee with a disability and how to manage an employee’s sickness absence and return to work fairly and lawfully.
Please call us on 020 7618 2400