Understanding workplace equality and diversity

There’s a variety of discrimination acts to make sure companies are adhering to the minimum standards

In the UK, companies are legally required to adhere to certain practices that ensure discrimination is eliminated and expectations of equality are always met in the workplace. All workers must be treated equally and be given the same set of opportunities regardless of their race, age, gender, sexuality, disability, culture or anything else that might be discriminated against. The legislations in place are there to ensure an inclusive working environment is always fostered, and that any form of ‘difference’ should never prove to be an obstacle in career progression or indeed getting a job in the first place.

There’s a variety of discrimination acts to make sure companies are adhering to the minimum standards, and indeed the legislation in place is wide ranging and comprehensive. These acts include:

All of these laws are in place to ensure recruitment of staff is always taken from the widest possible pools of potentials and that, once at work, all staff no matter what their background are given equal treatment and equal opportunity.

What is equality and diversity in the workplace?

So what are these terms ‘equality’ and ‘diversity’, and what do they really mean? Well, in the UK, equality is about promoting and fostering everybody’s right to be different, about being free from discrimination, valued as an individual, and having choice and dignity with a right to your own beliefs and values.

‘Diversity’ is a word that means ‘varied and different’. So diversity is about more than equality. It’s about creating a culture which values individual differences and variety for the benefit of society, individuals and organisations.

What’s so important about having a diverse workplace?

Having a diverse workforce means the organisation can offer a wide range of ideas, skills, resources and energies to the business to give it a competitive edge. There is a much wider pool of talent available to organisations that embrace diversity – they will reap the benefits of a broader market, improved productivity, and a raised profile within the community.

Some of the key benefits of diversity management (ie actively encouraging the seeking of a diverse workforce) include:

Knowledge of different areas of the community can be used
A better understanding of market segments and consumer behaviour can be attained
You can become an employer of choice
You will retain a wider talent pool when recruiting
You will have a more ‘balanced’ and representative workforce

The working environment that such diversity management initiatives will produce will also be beneficial to employees. Some of these benefits include:

Staff will have a better appreciation, understanding and respect for difference
Contrasting perspectives will be encouraged, which can lead to improved team productivity and success
Employees’ morale will be improved, which raises motivation
Standards of delivery will be improved
Retention of employees will be strengthened, as will employee progression
All work will take place in a vibrant, inclusive and nurturing environment

Equal opportunities

We’ve all heard the words ‘equal opportunities’ being used in reference to the workforce. But what does it really mean to ensure all employees are treated equally and have the same access to promotion and progression within an organisation?

Most commonly, the term ‘equal opportunity’ is a term used within human resources to describe the actions and measures taken to ensure fairness in employment and recruitment. In simple terms, equal opportunity is about addressing the ‘balance’ and representation of a community within a workforce but what does it mean in action?

Equal opportunity means:

All people are treated as individuals without judgements being made of them based on stereotypes
Understanding, appreciating and valuing all staff members’ different sets of skills and abilities, and utilising their differences for the best personal and organisational results
Offering fair, courteous and equal opportunities to all individuals
Fully embracing the principle that people will be treated with fairness
That a working environment is created and fostered where people of all backgrounds and experience feel valued and appreciated

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Workplace policies

Many organisations have their own equal opportunities policy. In it should be described the steps the organisation will take to abide by equality legislation (such as those listed above) and promote equality in the workplace. These policies are designed to prevent certain employment situations, such as:

Male employees being paid more than female colleagues for doing the same job
Interviews only being given to workers/outside candidates of a particular gender or age (when these things are not a factor in being able to perform the advertised role)
A person with a physical disability not being able to get a job in an organisation due to, for example, a lack of wheelchair access
New roles not being advertised internally
Employers allowing extra holidays for staff from one particular religion, but not from others
Employees being overlooked for promotion because of their gender, sexuality or disability

Recruitment

Organisations must follow certain procedures for recruitment so all applications are treated appropriately and fairly, and nobody is rejected because of their race, gender, sexuality or any other discriminatory reason. These procedures should include:

Setting a job description so all applicants are evaluated against the exact same criteria and nothing else
Advertising the post in a variety of locations (online, in the press, through job centres) so the role is publicised to as wide an audience as possible
Ensuring there is an interview panel so the views of more than one person are taken into consideration when deciding on who attains the position

Promotion

Equal opportunities for promotion should always be made available to all staff, and no employee should be restricted from promotional opportunities because of their colour of skin, religion, gender or any other discriminatory reason.

It should be part of the company’s equal opportunities policy to ensure that discussions are regularly held with all members of staff, in which employees can talk about how they see their career developing, and ask for any training and support should they wish to progress into more senior roles in the company. These discussions can be undertaken on a one-to-one basis, or in front of a panel if the employee so wishes, such as at appraisals and personal reviews.

Pay

When it comes to pay, under the laws of equality, no employee should be paid any more or any less than any one of their colleagues who are performing the same role due to their age, gender, religion, sexuality or any other discriminatory reason.

However, it should here be noted that under some circumstances there becomes a legitimate reason for differences in pay between employees who are undertaking the same job role. For example if somebody has been with the company for a longer period of time, or has more experience or qualifications. It is vital, however, that the employer be able to justify that the reasons for the differences in pay are legitimate, and not based on any form of bias towards one employee over another in order to help demonstrate equal opportunities in the workplace.

What is the effect on companies and staff?

A good diversity programme has many beneficial effects on staff and organisations alike. Indeed, when it comes to equality and diversity, a good rubric means the whole working environment is much better, productivity is heightened, and success and business naturally increase

Employees can rest assured they won’t be discriminated against in the workplace, they have equal opportunities for promotion and progression, and they’re only being assessed on their performance and measurable merits. They will feel empowered because they know they’re only being employed for their aptitude, just as is everyone else around them.

What’s more, the employee can be confident that they’ll be given the right tools to do their job properly – which can be anything from proper disabled access, flexible working hours, and even good communication from all members of staff. When there are no barriers to job progression, the workforce feels more positive about their jobs and will be more committed to working hard for the company that is working hard for them. These sorts of diversity and equality initiatives create a real sense of understanding and respect right throughout an organisation, which engenders a much better, more pleasant and productive working atmosphere for everyone. All organisations should promote their equality policy as widely as possible.

Employers benefit, also. Having people from all walks of life can give a huge boost to a business, with different insights, perspectives and experiences all combining to produce an effective, dynamic and creative workforce.

What to do if you encounter discrimination

It is, of course, still the case that some companies do not adhere to the laws or even their own equal opportunities policies. If you feel you’re being discriminated against, then there are plenty of organisations that you can reach out to seek help. Consider getting in touch with:

Your trade union
The person in your workplace who deals with internal grievances
Citizens Advice Centre

The first thing you should do is find out about your company’s grievance procedures. It may be useful to contact the human resources department about this. If you cannot resolve the issue internally, then you can take your case to an employment tribunal, especially if you found yourself forced out of a job for what you believe to be discriminatory reasons.

Next steps

Equality and diversity are the terms used to both define and champion the values of human rights in society, and that includes the workplace. With every individual being given an equal chance to achieve their potential, absolutely free from prejudice and discrimination, the importance of these terms, and the laws that enforce their meanings, are in place to advocate and promote the true sense of equality and opportunity for all. Understanding the principles of equality and diversity in the workplace is fundamentally important.

A good diversity programme has many beneficial effects on staff and organisations alike. Indeed, when it comes to equality and diversity, a good rubric means that the whole working environment is much better, productivity is heightened, and success and business naturally increase. A diverse workforce will reflect the external environment.

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This content was initially published on Marshallelearning.com (February 2015) and has been uploaded to and lightly amended on Ciphr.com as part of the brand amalgamation in August 2024