4/ Equality, Inclusion and Diversity

EQUALITY, INCLUSION AND DIVERSITY

It is the policy of Reprotec UK Ltd not to discriminate against our workers on the basis of their gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, disability or age, pregnancy or trade union membership or the fact that they are a part-time worker or a fixed-term employee. 

Reprotec UK abides by the Equality Act 2010.

Our workers and applicants for employment shall not be disadvantaged by any policies or conditions of service which cannot be justified as necessary for operational purposes.  We shall, at all times, work within legislative requirements as well as promoting best practice. 

Our long-term aim is that the composition of our workforce should reflect that of the community and that all workers should be offered equal opportunities to achieve their full potential. 

This policy, and the measures we take to implement it, have been devised on the basis of advice from the relevant government and professional bodies.  We are committed to a programme of action to make this policy effective and to bring it to the attention of all workers.  The principle of non-discrimination and equality of opportunity applies equally to the treatment of visitors, clients, customers and suppliers by members of our workforce and also, in some circumstances, ex-employees.

The following sections deal with the specific categories of workers and areas of work which we have identified as potentially giving rise to equal opportunities issues and provides more specific more specific guidance on the parameters of our policy and approach to equal opportunities.

1.     This policy applies to:

1.1    Our employees (whether permanent, temporary, casual, part-time or on fixed term contract) to ex-employees, to job applicants and to individuals such as agency staff and consultants who are not our employees, but who work with us. 

1.2    All workers have a duty to act in accordance with this policy, and therefore to treat colleagues with dignity at all times, and not to discriminate against or harass other members of staff, whether junior or senior to them.  In some situations, we may be at risk of being held responsible for the acts of individual members of staff and will not therefore tolerate any discriminatory practices or behaviour.

1.3    The policy statement in paragraph 1.2 applies equally to the treatment of our visitors, clients, customers and suppliers by our workers.

2.     Personnel responsible for implementing this policy

2.1   The Managing Director Responsible for Health and Safety, has overall responsibility for the effective operation of our Equal Opportunities Policy (EOP) and for ensuring compliance with the relevant statutory framework prohibiting discrimination.

2.2    Those working at a management level have a specific responsibility to set an appropriate standard of behaviour, to lead by example and to ensure that those they manage adhere to the policy and promote the aims and objectives of Reprotec UK  with regard to equal opportunities.

2.3    All members of staff are responsible for the success of this policy and must ensure that they familiarise themselves with the policy and act in accordance with its aims and objectives.

3.     Scope and purpose of this policy  

3.1    We will not unlawfully discriminate on grounds of gender, sexual orientation, marital or civil partner status, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin, disability or age, pregnancy, trade union membership, or part-time or fixed-term status.

3.2    This policy applies to the advertising of jobs and recruitment and selection, to training and development, opportunities for promotion, to conditions of service, benefits and facilities and pay; to health and safety and to conduct at work, to grievance and disciplinary procedures and to termination of employment, including redundancy.

3.3    We will take appropriate steps to accommodate the requirements of workers’ religions, cultures, and domestic responsibilities.

4.     Forms of Discrimination

4.1    Discrimination may be direct or indirect and it may occur intentionally or unintentionally.  Direct discrimination occurs where someone is put at a disadvantage for a reason related to one or more of the grounds set out in paragraph 3.1.  For example, rejecting an applicant of one race because it is considered they would not “fit in” on the grounds of their race could be direct discrimination. Indirect discrimination occurs where an individual is subject to an unjustified provision, criterion or practice which puts them at a particular disadvantage because of, for example, their sex or race.

5.     Recruitment and Selection

5.1    We aim to ensure that no job applicant receives less favourable treatment on any of the unlawful grounds listed in paragraph 3.1.  Recruitment procedures will be reviewed regularly to ensure that individuals are treated on the basis of their relevant merits and abilities and that sufficiently diverse sectors of the community are reached.  Job selection criteria are regularly reviewed to ensure that they are justifiable on non-discriminatory grounds as being essential for the effective performance of the job.

5.2    We shall take steps to ensure that knowledge of vacancies reaches a wide labour market and, where relevant, groups under-represented in our business. Where appropriate, use may be made of lawful exemptions to recruit suitably-qualified people to cater for the special needs of particular groups.  Vacancy advertisements shall include an appropriate short statement on our equal opportunities policy and a copy of this policy shall be sent to those who enquire about vacancies.

6.     Staff training and promotion and conditions of service

6.1    Staff training needs will be identified through regular staff appraisals.  All workers will be given appropriate access to training to enable them to progress within the organisation.  All promotion decisions will be made on the basis of merit.

6.2    The composition and movement of workers at different levels will be regularly monitored to ensure equality of opportunity at all levels of the organisation.  Where appropriate, steps will be taken to identify and remove unnecessary or unjustifiable barriers and to provide appropriate facilities and conditions of service to meet the special needs of disadvantaged or under-represented groups. 

6.3    Our conditions of service, benefits and facilities will be reviewed regularly to ensure that they are available to all workers who should have access to them and that there are no unlawful obstacles to accessing them.

7.     Termination of Employment

7.1    We will monitor redundancy criteria and procedures to ensure that they are fair and objective and do not directly or indirectly discriminate against employees.

7.2    We will also ensure that disciplinary procedures are carried out fairly and uniformly for all workers, whether they result in the giving of disciplinary warnings, dismissal or other disciplinary action.

8.     Disability Discrimination

8.1    If you are disabled, or become disabled in the course of your employment with us, you are encouraged to tell us about your condition.  This is to enable us to support you as much as possible.  You may also wish to advise us of any reasonable adjustments to your working conditions or the duties of your job which you consider to be necessary, or which would assist you in the performance of your duties.  We may wish to consult with you and with your medical adviser(s) about possible reasonable adjustments.  Careful consideration will be given to any such proposals and they will be accommodated where possible and proportionate to the needs of your job.  Nevertheless, there may be circumstances where it will not be reasonable for us to accommodate the suggested adjustments and we will ensure that we provide you with information as to the basis of our decision not to make any adjustments.

9.     Breaches of policy

9.1    If you believe that you may have been disadvantaged on any of the unlawful grounds listed at paragraph 3.1, you are encouraged to raise the matter through our grievance procedure.  Allegations regarding potential breaches of this policy will be treated in confidence and investigated in accordance with the relevant procedure.  Workers who make such allegations in good faith will not be victimised or treated less favourably as a result.  False allegations of a breach of this policy which are found to have been made in bad faith will, however, be dealt with under our disciplinary procedure. 

9.2    If, after investigation, you are proven to have harassed any other worker on the grounds of sex, marital status, sexual orientation, religion or belief, race, disability or age or otherwise act in breach of this policy, you will be subject to disciplinary action.  In serious cases, such behaviour may constitute gross misconduct and, as such, may result in summary dismissal.  We will always take a strict approach to serious breaches of this policy.

9.3        As this policy applies equally to our workers’ relations with visitors, clients, customers and suppliers, if after investigation, you are proven to have discriminated against or harassed a client or supplier you will also be subject to disciplinary action.

10.0      POLICY REVIEW & COMMUNICATION

10.1  This policy will be reviewed on an annual basis as a minimum or in the event of changes to legislation. All employees and new starters will be made aware of the policy.