Protecting Your Salon: Rising Claims Under the Equality Act 2010

As salon owners in the beauty, hair, and nail industry, ensuring compliance with legal frameworks is crucial to protecting your business.

Recent data highlights an increase in discrimination and defamation claims under the Equality Act 2010 within the retail, leisure, and hospitality sectors. These claims can result in compensation for upset and distressed clients, even if no financial loss or injury is proven.

Check Policy Exclusions: Defamation and Discrimination

Knowing what’s excluded from your policy is just as important as checking what’s covered. Under our Professional Beauty Salon policies there is a specific exclusion included for “Defamation and Discrimination.” This means incidents falling under these categories are not covered. As such, having preventative measures in place is essential to safeguard your salon against potential claims of this nature.

Best Practices for Equality Compliance

The Equality Act 2010 makes it unlawful to discriminate in the way goods and services are provided to the public. The very nature of the work carried out within our industry increases the likelihood of a claim. The discrimination team at Keoghs Solicitors have combined their specialist knowledge and many years of experience to provide their top tips for claims prevention.

Their guidance includes:

1. Policy Implementation:
   • Ensure any bans, dress codes, or service policies are proportionate, justified, and consistently applied to avoid discriminatory impacts.
2. Staff Training:
   • Educate your team on the provisions of the Equality Act. Front-line staff, such as receptionists and stylists, should understand their responsibilities to prevent discriminatory actions.
3. Incident Management:
   • Stay calm and professional during disputes. Avoid reactive comments and ensure all responses are considered and factual.
4. Record Keeping:
   • Maintain incident reports and, where applicable, CCTV evidence, as they may be crucial for defending claims.

Proactive Prevention

Establishing robust systems and training not only prevents claims but also strengthens your ability to defend against them should they arise. For more information or to discuss how we can support your business, please don’t hesitate to contact us. Let’s work together to keep your salon a safe and welcoming space for everyone.

27/11/2024