Marriage and civil partnership

Marriage and civil partnership are protected characteristics and can be the subject of direct discrimination and victimisation.

It is unlawful for employers to discriminate against employees who fall into one or other of the categories. Single people are not protected as part of the Equality Act.

A person has a protected characteristic if they are legally married and their union is recognised as a marriage under UK law, even if the marriage did not take place in the UK.

People do not have the protected characteristic if they are engaged to be married, are divorcees, persons whose civil partnership has been dissolved, those living with someone as a couple, those who believe they are married or in a civil partnership and those who are widowed.

The University will treat civil partners in the same way as married people in a wide range of matters, including employment and vocational training.