European ruling on disability discrimination by association

The Advocate General (AG) of the European Court of Justice (ECJ) has said that treating employees less favourably because of their caring responsibilities for disabled relatives is unlawful. The AG stated that a European Directive regarding equal treatment in employment prohibits “disability discrimination by association” and should apply to British law. This could also mean carers of elderly relatives will have the same protection, according to the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC).