This made it illegal for a company to employ or promote a male worker with fewer qualifications or less experience than a female worker. It also prevented companies from demoting employees upon their return from paternity or maternity leave, and punished companies for not offering women employment on the basis of the nature of the work being inappropriate e.g. physical. It also specified types of sexual harassment, which were unacceptable. It was repealed in 2010 with the Equality Act.