Protected Characteristics - how protected are they?

Event Details

Even if we understand the legal protection given to ‘personal characteristics’, do we fully understand our responsibilities as employers in how we deal with them? To what extent does our status as Christian employers offer protection, and what are the implications if we get it wrong? Is there any conflict between the law and our Christian ethos, and if so, how do we navigate it?

These are just some of the questions being asked by members of the GC network, and given the associated risks, it’s important that we spend time looking at them under the guidance of employment law experts.

During this event, we’ll hear from Mark Mason and Roy Magara (both employment law specialists and members of the network) who will explain some of the nuances that we need to take into consideration when deciding how to address these difficult questions.

Programme outline:

• Brief introduction to the Equality Act
• Brief explanation of the various protected characteristics
• Exploration of the duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabilities (including a focus on mental health disabilities and neurodivergence)
• Occupational requirement, with a focus on two areas:
  • Requirement to be a Christian, then…
  • Requirements regarding sex, gender reassignment and sexual orientation related to Christian belief (the “organised religion” exemption)
• Documentation for organisations to consider adopting:
  • Statement of faith
  • Code of conduct for Christian living / Ethos statement
• Relevance of these matters at recruitment and on an ongoing basis

Who is this event for: senior leaders and HR managers

Venue: Christian Medical Fellowship (CMF) 6 Marshalsea Road, London, SE1 1HL

Date & Time: Wednesday 8^th October 2025

Cost: £40:00 for GC & MAP members, and £80:00 for non-members.

Please note, to keep costs as low as possible, lunch will not be provided so please bring your own or be prepared to purchase it on the day.

Speaker Bios:

Mark Mason has been advising on employment law since 2004. He qualified as a Solicitor in 2006 and worked in a Solicitors’ practice before ceasing to practise and moving into employment law consultancy in 2010. Mark established his own consultancy practice in 2012. 

Mark is married to Gillian, who assists with the admin and finance roles in the business. They have two children. Mark takes a keen interest in a wide range of sports and loves northing more than spending time with friends and family on the beautiful Northern Irish north coast.

Roy Magara: We statistically spend most of our time thinking about, talking about and in many cases worrying about our work. As an Employment Solicitor Advocate at Magara Law, Roy works hard to help you through the legalities and complexities of your 'every day' and take the "worry" out of your statistics.

People are at the heart of Roy’s practice – whether employer or employee – and Roy’s aim is to ensure that whichever side of the relationship you are, your employment rights and obligations are in check.

Roy is based in Bicester, Oxfordshire, and is married with three wonderful daughters.