1 Statement of policy
The aim of this policy is to communicate the commitment of the chief
executive, Board of Directors and senior management team to the promotion of equality of opportunity in our company.
It is our policy to provide employment equality to all, irrespective of:
• Gender, including gender reassignment
• Marital or civil partnership status
• Having or not having dependants
• Religious belief or political opinion
• Race (including colour, nationality, ethnic or national origins,
being an Irish Traveller)
• Disability
• Sexual orientation
• Age.
We are opposed to all forms of unlawful and unfair discrimination. All
job applicants, employees and others who work for us will be treated
fairly and will not be discriminated against on any of the above grounds.
Decisions about recruitment and selection, promotion, training or any
other benefit will be made objectively and without unlawful
discrimination.
We recognise that the provision of equal opportunities in the workplace
is not only good management practice, it also makes sound business sense. Our equal opportunities policy will help all those who work for us
to develop their full potential and the talents and resources of the
workforce will be utilised fully to maximise the efficiency of the
organisation.
2 To whom does the policy apply?
The Equal Opportunities Policy applies to all those who work for (or apply to work for) the organisation.
3 Equality commitments
We are committed to:
• Promoting equality of opportunity for all persons
• Promoting a good and harmonious working environment in
which all persons are treated with respect
• Preventing occurrences of unlawful direct discrimination,
indirect discrimination, harassment and victimisation
• Fulfilling all our legal obligations under the equality
legislation and associated codes of practice
• Complying with our own equal opportunities policy and
associated policies
• Taking lawful affirmative or positive action, where appropriate
• Regarding all breaches of equal opportunities policy as
misconduct which could lead to disciplinary proceedings.
This policy is fully supported by senior management and has been agreed with all contractors and staff.
4 Implementation
The managing director has specific responsibility for the effective implementation of this policy. Each director, manager or contractor also has responsibilities and we expect all our employees to abide by the policy and help create the equality environment which is its objective.
In order to implement this policy we shall:
- Communicate the policy to employees, job applicants and
relevant others (such as contract or agency workers)
- Incorporate specific and appropriate duties in respect of
implementing the equal opportunities policy into job
descriptions and work objectives of all staff
- Provide equality training and guidance as appropriate,
including training on induction and management courses.
- Ensure that those who are involved in assessing candidates
for recruitment or promotion will be trained in nondiscriminatory
selection techniques
- Incorporate equal opportunities notices into general
communications practices (eg, staff newsletters, intranet)
- Obtain commitments from other persons or organisations
such as subcontractors or agencies that they too will comply
with the policy in their dealings with our organisation and our workforce
- Ensure that adequate resources are made available to fulfil the objectives of the policy.
5 Monitoring and review
We will establish appropriate information and monitoring systems to
assist the effective implementation of our equal opportunities policy.
The effectiveness of our equal opportunities policy will be reviewed
annually and action taken as necessary. For example,
where monitoring identifies an under-representation of a particular
group or groups, we shall develop an action plan to address the
imbalance.
6 Complaints
Employees who believe that they have suffered any form of discrimination, harassment or victimisation are entitled to raise the matter through the agreed procedures
A copy of these
procedures is available from the managing director. All complaints
of discrimination will be dealt with seriously, promptly and confidentially.
In addition to our internal procedures, employees have the right to pursue complaints of discrimination to an industrial tribunal or the Fair Employment Tribunal under the following anti-discrimination legislation:
- Sex Discrimination (Northern Ireland) Order 1976, as
amended
- Disability Discrimination Act 1995, as amended
- Grievance Procedures
- Race Relations (Northern Ireland) Order 1997, as amended
- Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations
(Northern Ireland) 2003
- Fair Employment and Treatment (Northern Ireland) Order
1998, as amended
- Employment Equality (Age) Regulations (Northern Ireland)
2006
- Equal Pay Act (Northern Ireland) 1970, as amended.
However, employees wishing to make a complaint to a tribunal will normally be required to raise their complaint under our internal grievance procedures first
Every effort will be made to ensure that employees who make complaints will not be victimised. Any complaint of victimisation will be dealt with seriously, promptly and confidentially. Victimisation will result in disciplinary action and may warrant dismissal.
Date: 29/6/2009
Signature: Ralph Price (Managing Director)