EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND DIVERSITY STATEMENT

The Company is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to ensuring, within the framework of the law, that its workplaces are free from unlawful or unfair discrimination on the grounds of colour, race, religion, nationality, ethnic or national origin, gender (including gender reassignment), sexual orientation, age, marital status, pregnancy or maternity or disability.  We therefore recognise the nine protective characteristics of the Equality Act 2010 and apply the provisions of the Act in full in all cases of our organisation. 

EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES AND DIVERSITY POLICY

1. The Company aims to ensure that our staff achieve their full potential and that all employment decisions are taken without reference to irrelevant or discriminatory criteria. We have adopted the following policy as a means of helping to achieve these aims.

2. Direct discrimination occurs where someone is put at a disadvantage on discriminatory grounds in relation to his or her employment. Direct discrimination may occur even when unintentional.

3. Indirect discrimination occurs where the individual’s employment is subject to an unjustified condition which one sex or race/nationality finds more difficult to meet although on the face of it the condition or requirement is ‘neutral’.

4. Victimisation occurs where an individual is treated less favourably than colleagues because he/she has taken action to assert their statutory rights or assisted a colleague with information in that regard.

5. Harassment occurs when an individual is subjected to unwanted conduct which has the purpose or effect of violating their dignity.

6. We are committed to ensuring that all our staff and applicants for employment are protected from unlawful discrimination in employment.

Implementing Equality of Opportunity

7. Recruitment and employment decisions will be made on the basis of fair and objective criteria. Our selection procedures are reviewed from time to time to ensure that they are appropriate for achieving our objectives and for avoiding unlawful discrimination.  The terms and conditions of employment, including remuneration, are decided without reference to discriminatory criteria.

8. The requirements of job applicants and existing members of staff who have or have had a disability will be reviewed to ensure that, wherever possible, reasonable adjustments are made to enable them to enter into or remain in employment with us. Promotion opportunities, benefits and facilities of employment will not be unreasonably limited and every reasonable effort will be made to ensure that disabled staff participate fully in the workplace.

9. Person and job specifications will be limited to those requirements, which are necessary for the effective performance of the job. Interviews will be conducted on an objective basis and personal or home commitments will not form the basis of employment decisions.

10. In accordance with recommended practice the ethnic and gender composition of our applicants for jobs will be monitored.

11. Appropriate training will be provided to enable staff to implement and uphold our commitment to equality of opportunity.

12. All staff have a right to equality of opportunity and a duty to implement this policy. Breach of the equal opportunity policy is a serious matter and will be dealt with under the Company’s Disciplinary Procedure.  Anyone who believes that he or she may have been disadvantaged on discriminatory grounds is entitled to raise the matter through the Grievance Procedure.