Workers may have a claim for harassment where the behaviour relates to one of one of a number of the characteristics protected by the Equality Act 2010 (EA 2010), namely age, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation. There is stronger legal protection where harassment is discriminatory. The protected characteristics of marriage and civil partnership and pregnancy and maternity are excluded from this protection, although individuals who experience harassment for these reasons can bring a claim for discrimination under other provisions of EA 2010.