... marital status, sexual orientation, ancestry, arrest or conviction record, the use of lawful products or military participation . During the 70's growing social concern about the unjustified discriminatory practices- in particular against women and those from minority ethnic groups - culminated in legislation on equal pay for men and women, and against discrimination on the grounds of sex and race and in the employment of ex-offenders. The Sex Discrimination Act 1975 and The Race Relations Act 1976 respectively established the Equal Opportunity Commission for the Racial Equality to promote and support the discrimination laws on sex and race. By the 1980s, many businesses had recognised that they could not fulfil their social as well as their legal obligations without an effective equal opportunities policy, the credibility of which depended on a clear commitment from the top. In the wake of the dramatic changes to employment patterns during the last recession and ...

See this essay or coursework document in full right now