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The organisation is committed to ensuring equal opportunities, fairness of treatment, dignity, work-life balance and the elimination of all forms of discrimination in the workplace for all staff and job applicants. The
Organisation aims to create a working environment in which all individuals are able to make best use of their skills, free from discrimination or harassment, and in which all decisions are based on merit.
The success of a business depends on people. Capitalising on what is unique about individuals and drawing on their different perspectives and experiences will add value to the way we do business.
By accessing, recruiting and developing talent from the widest possible talent pool we can gain an insight into different markets and generate greater creativity in anticipating customer needs.
We will constantly strive to create a productive environment, representative of and responsive to different cultures and groups, where everyone has an equal chance to succeed. With a key objective being the creation of a working environment in which people feel comfortable and confident that they will be treated with respect and dignity.
We all have a responsibility to embrace and support this vision and must continue to challenge behaviour and attitudes that prevent us from achieving this. Using fair, objective and innovative employment practices, our aim is to ensure that:
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All employees and potential employees are treated fairly and with respect at all stages of their employment.
 All employees have the right to be free from harassment and bullying of any description, or any other form of unwanted behaviour, whether based on sex, trans-gender status, marital status, civil partnership status, pregnancy, race, disability, age, political or religious belief or sexuality.
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All employees have an equal chance to contribute and to achieve their potential, irrespective of any defining feature that may give rise to unfair discrimination.
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The diversity of the communities we serve is reflected at all levels within our workforce
Discrimination by or against an employee is generally prohibited unless there is a specific legal exemption.
Discrimination may be Direct, Indirect, Associative or Perceptive and it may occur intentionally or unintentionally.
Direct Discrimination occurs where someone is treated less favourably because of one or more of the protected characteristics. Direct discrimination may occur even when unintentional. It may also, in some cases, occur by association – i.e. where a person is put at a disadvantage due to a characteristic of another person.
Indirect discrimination occurs where someone is disadvantaged by an unjustified provision, criterion or practice that also puts other people with the same Protected Characteristic at a particular disadvantage.
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For example, a requirement that a stores person must be over 6 foot to reach the top shelves would disproportionately rule out women and certain races and therefore discriminate against them.
This is direct discrimination against someone because they associate with another person who possesses a protected characteristic. An example would be a parent or carer of a disabled child or person who may have a high level of absence as a result.
This is direct discrimination against an individual because others think they possess a particular protected characteristic. It applies even if the person does not actually possess the characteristic e.g. if a colleague is discriminated against or harassed due to the belief he is homosexual when in reality he is heterosexual.
Harassment related to any of the Protected Characteristics is also prohibited. Harassment is "unwanted conduct related to a relevant protected characteristic, which has the purpose or effect of violating an individual's dignity or creating intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for that individual".
Employees are able to complain of behaviour that they find offensive even if it is not directed at them, and the complainant need not possess the relevant characteristic themselves. Employees are also protected from harassment because of perception and association
Harassment is dealt with further in our Anti-Harassment Policy.
Victimisation is also prohibited. This is less favourable treatment of someone who has complained or given information about discrimination or harassment, or supported someone else's complaint.
The principles of non-discrimination and equality of opportunity also apply to the way in which staff treat visitors, clients, customers, suppliers and former staff members.
Protected characteristics are set out in law and it is illegal to discriminate or harass anyone on these grounds.
Age diversity within the workforce is promoted and valued through:
 challenging age stereotyping
 recognising the benefits of a mixed-age workforce.
The abilities of disabled people are recognised and valued at all levels of the organisation through:
 focusing on what people can do rather than on what they cannot
 challenging stereotypes about people with disabilities
 making appropriate adjustments in the workplace to help people with disabilities achieve their full career potential.
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Discrimination against an employee or potential employee on grounds that he or she has, or is thought to have,
HIV or AIDS is not acceptable, and confidentiality will be respected in line with the wishes of an individual with
HIV or AIDS.
Women and men are fully and properly represented and rewarded for their contribution at all levels of the organisation through:
 challenging gender stereotypes
 supporting employees in balancing their life at work and at home
 supporting employees who become pregnant and taking active steps to facilitate their return to work after maternity leave.
People are treated fairly and equally in the workplace irrespective of their marital, civil partnership or family status.
The racial and cultural diversity of our communities is represented at all levels of the organisation through:
 challenging racial stereotypes
 understanding, respecting and valuing different racial and cultural backgrounds and perspectives.
People are treated fairly in the workplace irrespective of their religious beliefs and practices or political opinions by recognising individuals’ freedom of belief and right to protection from intolerance and persecution.
People are treated fairly in the workplace irrespective of their sexuality through:
 respecting different lifestyles
 challenging negative stereotypical views.
People who plan to undergo, are undergoing, or have undergone gender re-assignment are protected against all forms of discrimination and harassment. The employer will take positive steps to support a trans-gender person and ensure they are treated with dignity and respect.
All staff have a duty to act in accordance with this policy and treat colleagues with dignity at all times, and not to discriminate against or harass other members of staff, regardless of their status.
The Organisation is also committed to ensuring that no policy, procedure, provision, rule, requirement, condition or criterion will be imposed on any worker or job applicant without justification if it would be likely to put that person at a disadvantage on any of the above grounds.
This equal opportunities policy applies to all stages of the recruitment and selection process, as well as throughout individuals’ employment.
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All staff who have responsibility for recruitment, selection and promotion, or who supervise other staff, will receive equal opportunities training. Other staff will have the opportunity to attend awareness training in equality and the avoidance of discrimination.
Overall responsibility for this policy and equal opportunities training lies with the HR manager.
The organisation will continue to review the effectiveness of this policy to ensure it is achieving its objectives and as part of this process will monitor the composition of job applicants and the benefits and career progression of staff.
Staff are invited to comment on this policy and suggest ways in which it might be improved by contacting the
HR Manager.
This policy should be read alongside the Anti-Harassment and Bullying Policy.
Last reviewed: 13/09/2013
Next Review: 13/09/2014
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