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ARTICLE · 28 OCTOBER 2005

Civil Partnerships – How They May Affect the Workplace

Mishcon de Reya LLP
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The Civil Partnership Act 2004 ("CPA") will come into force on 5 December 2005. The CPA provides for same sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship, conferring benefits and obligations on the partners similar to those of a married couple.

United KingdomEmployment and HR
James Libson
James Libson
Joanna Blackburn
Joanna Blackburn

The Civil Partnership Act 2004 ("CPA") will come into force on 5 December 2005. The CPA provides for same sex couples to obtain legal recognition of their relationship, conferring benefits and obligations on the partners similar to those of a married couple. But has this got anything to do with employment law? The answer is yes and this month's briefing looks at the likely effect of the CPA on the employment relationship.

Discrimination

The CPA will amend a number of provisions relating to discrimination. For example, the current prohibition on discrimination against an employee by reason of their marital status, contained in the Sex Discrimination Act, will be extended to cover civil partners as well. Consequently, both married people and civil partners will have a right not to be treated less favourably than single people. However, it will not prohibit conduct which discriminates between married employees and employees in civil partnerships.

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