Where do I stand legally?

Scales

EqualityAct

The Equality Act was given Royal assent in April 2010 and is expected to come into force from October 2010 onwards. The Equality Act aims to clarify and streamline existing equality legislation – mainly the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA), the Race Relations Act, and the Sex Discrimination Act – and bring together in one statute the protection from discrimination to all ‘protected characteristics’, such as age, religion and sexual orientation.


Information on the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA)

The DDA applies to employers in the UK regardless of the number of employees. It also covers contract workers, office holders and business partners. A person experiencing mental distress can be discriminated against in the recruitment process, during employment, if they are selected for redundancy due to their disability, or even if their contract is terminated. Here’s an outline to help you understand more.

Case study - fighting for fairness

Read the inspiring story of a man who tried to get back to work after a long spell of depression, experienced discrimination from potential employers and stood up for his rights. With the assistance of the Disability Rights Commission, he made an important piece of case law. 

The Disability Law Service

This service provides advice on all types of disability-related employment law problems, including reasonable adjustments, harassment, dismissal and the employment tribunal procedure. 

 

Mind's legal advice service and legal unit

  • Mind's legal advice service provides legal information and general advice on mental health related law covering mental health, mental capacity, community care, human rights and discrimination/equality related to mental health issues
  • Mind's legal unit works with other mental health lawyers on significant impact cases and undertakes some casework, but only specific cases which meet strict 'casework criteria'.