This Code of Practice is intended as a tool to give practical effect to the provisions of the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2011 and the Equal Status
Acts 2000 to 2011, which prohibit discrimination on any of the following nine grounds: gender; civil status; family status; age; disability; sexual orientation;
religion; race; and membership of the Traveller community.
This Code of Practice also has a specific focus on mental health and illness within the wider definition of disability.
The World Health Organisation has estimated that one in five people in society are affected by mental health problems, and it is emerging as one of the leading
health problems in the world. The NESF has identified mental health as an area that needs policy developments, and this Code of Practice aims to provide
support and guidance to trade unions and employees with mental health problems.
It is important to remember that when we talk about people with disabilities, this does include people with mental health problems and that any publications,
policies or procedures relating to people with disabilities should also include a specific focus on mental health and illness.
The Code is intended for use by trade union organisations to enable them fulfill their duties as employers under the Employment Equality Acts 1998 to 2011,
and in particular under the Equal Status Acts 2000 to 2011.
