UK employers have been urged to review their working practices in order to fall into line with new anti-discrimination laws that are being introduced this week.

From today, it is illegal for businesses to discriminate against workers due to their sexual orientation, while tomorrow will see the introduction of laws banning bias against staff because of their religious beliefs.

The laws, which are similar to existing sex and race discrimination rules, will outlaw harassment and prejudice against gay, lesbian and bisexual staff and those with religious convictions. For the first time, workers will also be protected from discrimination even after they leave a job.

Legal specialists have warned employers that they must look at their existing practices to ensure that they do not fall foul of the new laws.

It is feared that the new legislation, while broadly welcomed in principle by business groups, will lead to an increase in legal claims against companies.

Figures released by the Equal Opportunities Review revealed that UK businesses were made to pay out £6.4 million in discrimination claims last year, up two-thirds on 2001.

Stephanie Slanickova, employment lawyer at Tarlo Lyons, told the BBC: “I think it will have a substantial impact, and will affect the way in which people go about their everyday lives in the workplace.”

As reported by Startups.co.uk, despite the potential impact of the new laws, research from HR Gateway found that the majority of UK firms had no idea that the regulations were about to be introduced.

The Trades Union Congress (TUC), welcomed the new laws, but argued that they did not go far enough and called for greater rights for gay and lesbian staff.

The trade union body said that it was seeking a judicial review to look at why same-sex partners of employees are routinely denied benefits available to married partners of staff.

Brendan Barber, general secretary of the TUC, said: “These rights are a massive leap forward for lesbian, gay and bisexual employees but we want them to go all the way.

“It’s a shame to have to go to court to achieve this but we have worked hard for these new right and we want them to be solid.”