Wednesday, 3 July 2013
Monday, 1 July 2013
Welcome
The following posts all link to ideas and legislation relevant to Equality and Diversity in the workplace. Use the links on the right to take you to a specific post. The links and videos are specifically designed to support the 'Learning for Work' Level 2 Certificate in Equality and Diversity (Assessments 2 and 3).
Human Rights in the workplace- case study videos from EHRC
Care Home
Northumbria Police
McMillan Cancer Support
Benefits of a diverse workplace
Specific Benefits
Specific benefits will vary depending on priorities for each organisation but can include:
- Attracting recruiting and retaining people from a wide "talent" base.
- Reducing the costs of labour turnover and absenteeism.
- Contributing to employee flexibility and responsiveness.
- Building employee commitment, morale and discretionary effort.
- Managing better the impact of globalisation and technological change.
- Enhancing creativity and innovation.
- Improving knowledge of how to operate in different cultures.
- Improving the understanding of the needs of current customers and clients.
- Assisting in the development of new products, services and marketing strategies.
- Enhancing the organisation’s reputation and image with external stakeholders.
- Creating opportunities for disadvantaged groups and building social cohesion.
- (source: http://www.oneworkplace.org.uk/controller6e39.html?p_service)
Introduction to the Equality Act
Protected Characterstics
Throughout the guidance you will see reference to 'protected characteristics'. This page gives you more information on each of the nine protected characteristics.
Age
Where this is referred to, it refers to a person belonging to a particular age (e.g. 32 year olds) or range of ages (e.g. 18 - 30 year olds).
Disability
A person has a disability if s/he has a physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on that person's ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Gender reassignment
The process of transitioning from one gender to another.
Marriage and civil partnership
Marriage is defined as a 'union between a man and a woman'. Same-sex couples can have their relationships legally recognised as 'civil partnerships'. Civil partners must be treated the same as married couples on a wide range of legal matters.
Pregnancy and maternity
Pregnancy is the condition of being pregnant or expecting a baby. Maternity refers to the period after the birth, and is linked to maternity leave in the employment context. In the non-work context, protection against maternity discrimination is for 26 weeks after giving birth, and this includes treating a woman unfavourably because she is breastfeeding.
Race
Refers to the protected characteristic of Race. It refers to a group of people defined by their race, colour, and nationality (including citizenship) ethnic or national origins.
Religion and belief
Religion has the meaning usually given to it but belief includes religious and philosophical beliefs including lack of belief (e.g. Atheism). Generally, a belief should affect your life choices or the way you live for it to be included in the definition.
Sex
A man or a woman.
Sexual orientation
Whether a person's sexual attraction is towards their own sex, the opposite sex or to both sexes.
You can see a more in-depth definition of these protected characteristics on the Office of Public Sector Information website.
Institutions that can support and advise on people's rights at work
Public bodies
This is a broad term that encompasses schools, colleges, hospitals, police that work towards the 'public good'. They can be Government funded, private contractors and charitable.
EHRC (Equality and Human Rights commission) is a new(ish) public body that is tasked with ensuring that people's human rights are upheld.
Unison is a representative group in the form of a trade union.
Unison video advocating benefits of joining
The Citizens Advice Bureau is a charity that seeks to support people's rights in all aspects of life, including work.
Pressure groups focus on a single issue. The Age Employment Network and Stonewall are two such examples.
Stonewall on Youtube
This is a broad term that encompasses schools, colleges, hospitals, police that work towards the 'public good'. They can be Government funded, private contractors and charitable.
EHRC (Equality and Human Rights commission) is a new(ish) public body that is tasked with ensuring that people's human rights are upheld.
Unison is a representative group in the form of a trade union.
Unison video advocating benefits of joining
The Citizens Advice Bureau is a charity that seeks to support people's rights in all aspects of life, including work.
Pressure groups focus on a single issue. The Age Employment Network and Stonewall are two such examples.
Stonewall on Youtube
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