Radio Ramadan to Interview Harper Macleod Employment LawyerAbout the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations

Employment lawyer Saria Akhter, Associate, with Harper Macleod, will be interviewed on Radio Ramadan to discuss the application of the Race Relations Act 1976 and the Employment Equality (Religion or Belief) Regulations 2003.   The interviews will take place at 7.30pm on 13 October on Radio Ramadan, Edinburgh and 10.50pm on 17th October 2006 on Radio Ramadan, Glasgow.

Saria Akhter specialises in employment law & has extensive experience in both contentious and non-contentious matters in this field, including discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation, disability, sex, or race, unfair and constructive dismissal, breach of contract, and redundancy. She has represented clients before Employment Tribunals in England as well as in Scotland, and has conducted Appeals before the Employment Appeal Tribunal. She has considerable employment law training experience, providing training in workshops, mock tribunals, presentations and seminars.

Saria is also a Chairman of the Scottish Charity Appeal's Panel, the purpose of the Panel being to consider appeals against a decision by the Office of the Scottish Charity Regulator (OSCR) or by someone to whom OSCR's powers have been delegated.

The interview is aimed at employers who may not be aware of the broad scope or interpretation of the Race Relations Act, and the Religion or Belief Regulations, which may become particularly relevant during times of religious observance or festivals. Saria will discuss how, employers need to regularly review their practices and procedures, and in the context of this legislation relating to race, religion or belief, look carefully at policies in relation to dress codes, dietary requirements and time off for religious observance.

Saria comments: "What employers may not realise is that the Religion or Belief Regulations are distinct from race discrimination legislation. To give an example, if an employee who was Indian, but was Hindu, was treated less favourably in the course of his employment on the grounds of his religion than an employee who was also Indian, but was Sikh, that would amount to discrimination, contrary to the Religion or Belief Regulations.

In addition, employees do not seem to appreciate that an employee they work with can bring a claim for discrimination not only against the organisation that they work for, but also against particular individuals in that organisation who they feel have discriminated against them contrary to the legislation.  In the event of such a claim against an individual being successful, the individual could be personally liable for the award made.  Employers should clearly state within their employee policies that discrimination will not be tolerated, and employees should be aware that such a claim may be brought directly against them."

Saria is a member of Harper Macleod's Employment, Pensions & Incentives Practice Group.  Harper Macleod has grown rapidly since its inception in 1988, now with a complement of some 200 staff (including 34 Partners), with offices in Inverness, Glasgow and Edinburgh.  The firm is award winning, this year receiving the title 'Law Firm of the Year 2006' at Scotland's two most prestigious law awards, The Law Awards of Scotland and The Scottish Legal Awards - one of only two firms to have ever been awarded the title twice in the same year.