Small and medium-sized business owners must be prepared for the impact of the Equality Act, which is due to be implemented on the 1st of October.

Companies of all sizes will be affected by the legislation, which has been more than five years in the making. It will raise a range of practical points for employers to consider to avoid the risks of discrimination claims by employees.

Some of the key issues of the Act include an extension of discrimination law, the prohibition on employers asking job applicants questions about their health and new laws that allow employees to freely discuss their pay with one another.

"The new Act has been a long time coming. Its fundamental purpose is to bring together all existing discrimination protection into a single Act, with a view to ensuring consistency and clarity over how employees and job applicants are protected against incidents of discrimination in the workplace," said Rachel Dineley from Beachcroft LLP.