2. Public sector equality duty
The public sector equality duty (PSED) is a legal duty under the Equality Act 2010 for anyone who:
- works in the public sector
- does work on behalf of the public sector
What public sector employers must do
Under the duty, you must consider how you could:
- stop discrimination for staff, customers and other users of your services
- help support equality and equal opportunities in the day-to-day running of your organisation
- help make good relations by tackling prejudice and promoting understanding of all protected characteristics
The duty helps ensure public bodies consider the needs of everyone in their day-to-day work, including:
- their employees
- when shaping policies
- when delivering services
Find out more
You can find the full list of employers who must follow the public sector equality duty in Schedule 19 of the Equality Act 2010 on GOV.UK.
As well as the overall public sector duties, there are also specific duties that apply in England, Scotland and Wales.
Find out more about the public sector equality duty from the Equality and Human Rights Commission