Sex discrimination and employment
Explore the main issues employers face when dealing with sex discrimination in the workplace.
Explore the main issues employers face when dealing with sex discrimination in the workplace.
Sex discrimination occurs when someone is treated unfairly for reasons relating to their sex. Although illegal in the UK for many years, the law is now incorporated into the Equality Act 2010. Sex discrimination continues to be an issue, for example, sexual and sex-based harassment and the related area of pregnancy and maternity discrimination remain serious problems, and low numbers of women in senior roles is a key challenge for many organisations.
This factsheet offers an overview of the different types of discrimination with examples of how they apply to sex discrimination. It highlights the need for employers to take action and suggests good employment practices to ensure everyone has fair access and opportunity to progress in work, regardless of their sex.
Explore our viewpoint on gender equality in more detail, along with actions for government and recommendations for employers.
Unlock exclusive, tailored content and resources, just for members.
Sign in to accessNot a member yet? Find out how you can become a member today!
Tackling barriers to work today whilst creating inclusive workplaces of tomorrow.
Discover our practice guidance and recommendations to tackle bullying and harassment in the workplace.
Explore the CIPD’s point of view on religion and belief, including actions for Government and recommendations for employers
Explore the CIPD’s point of view on sexual orientation, gender identity and gender reassignment, including recommendations for employers
Explore the CIPD’s point of view on race inclusion in the workplace, including recommendations for employers
Learn how non-executive directors (NEDs) differ from executive directors and how they operate within an organisation
Learn how to identify the signs of stress and address stress at work
Understand the fundamentals, as well as how to choose and install the right scheme for your organisation
Understand the links between work, health and wellbeing, and the role of stakeholders in adopting an organisational approach to employee wellbeing