Introduction
We are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equality of opportunity and to providing a service and following practices which are free from unfair and unlawful discrimination.
The aim of this policy is to ensure that no applicant or member of staff receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be relevant to performance. It seeks also to ensure that no person is victimised or subjected to any form of bullying or harassment.
We value people as individuals with diverse opinions, cultures, lifestyles and circumstances. All employees are covered by this policy and it applies to all areas of employment including recruitment, selection, training, deployment, career development, and promotion. These areas are monitored and policies and practices are amended if necessary to ensure that no unfair or unlawful discrimination, intentional, unintentional, direct or indirect, overt or latent exists.
The People Team and the management team have responsibility for implementing and monitoring the Equality and diversity policy and, as part of this process, all policies and procedures are administered with the objective of promoting equality of opportunity and eliminating unfair or unlawful discrimination.
All employees, workers or self-employed contractors whether part time, full time or temporary, will be treated fairly and with respect. Selection for employment, promotion, training, or any other benefit will be on the basis of aptitude and ability. All employees will be helped and encouraged to develop their full potential and the talents and resources of the workforce will be fully utilised to maximise the efficiency of the College.
Equality of opportunity, valuing diversity and compliance with the law is to the benefit of all individuals in the College as it seeks to develop the skills and abilities of its people. While specific responsibility for eliminating discrimination and providing equality of opportunity lies with managers and supervisors, individuals at all levels have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect. The personal commitment of every employee to this policy and application of its principles are essential to eliminate discrimination and provide equality throughout the College.
Scope
This policy applies to all Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists (RCOG) permanent and fixed term employees, workers or self-employed contractors whether part time, full time or temporary, will be treated fairly and with respect.
This policy is not contractual and the College reserves the right to withdraw or amend it or to apply another policy or procedure as we consider appropriate.
Our commitment as an employer
The College is committed to:
- creating an environment in which individual differences and the contributions of our staff are recognised and valued
- every employee, worker or self-employed contractor is entitled to a working environment that promotes dignity and respect to all. No form of intimidation, bullying or harassment will be tolerated
- providing training, development and progression opportunities to all staff
- understanding equality in the workplace is good management practice and makes sound business sense
- reviewing all our employment practices and procedures to ensure fairness.
Our commitment as a service provider
The College is committed to:
- providing services to our members and service users are entitled regardless of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy or maternity, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation, offending past, caring responsibilities or social class
- making sure our services are delivered equally and meet the diverse needs of our service users and clients by assessing and meeting the diverse needs of our clients
- fully supporting this policy by senior management and ensuring agreement has been reached with employee representatives
- selecting those for employment, promotion, training, or any other benefit purely on the basis of aptitude and ability
- monitoring and reviewing this policy annually
- having clear procedures that enable our clients, candidates for jobs and employees to raise a grievance or make a complaint if they feel they have been unfairly treated
- treating breaches of our equality and diversity policy as misconduct which could lead to disciplinary proceedings.
Equal opportunity policy statements
Age
We will:
- ensure that people of all ages are treated with respect and dignity
- ensure that people of working age are given equal access to our employment, training, development and promotion opportunities and
- challenge discriminatory assumptions about younger and older people.
Disability
We will:
- provide any reasonable adjustments to ensure disabled people have access to our services and employment opportunities
- challenge discriminatory assumptions about disabled people and
- seek to continue to improve access to information by ensuring availability of loop systems, braille facilities, alternative formatting and sign language interpretation.
Race
We will:
- challenge racism wherever it occurs
- respond swiftly and sensitively to racists incidents and actively promote race equality in the College.
Gender & gender reassignment
We will:
- challenge discriminatory assumptions about women and men
- take positive action to redress the negative effects of discrimination against women and men
- offer equal access for women and men to representation, services, employment, training and pay and encourage other organisations to do the same and
- provide support to prevent discrimination against transgender people who have or who are about to undergo gender reassignment
- prohibit and respond to all instances of discrimination, both from colleagues and externally.
Sexual orientation
We will:
- ensure that we take account of the needs of heterosexuals, lesbians, gay men, asexual and bisexuals and promote positive images of heterosexuals lesbians, gay men, asexual and bisexuals.
Religion or belief
We will:
- ensure that employees’ religion or beliefs and related observances are respected and accommodated wherever possible and
- respect people’s beliefs where the
- expression of those beliefs does not impinge on the legitimate rights of others.
Pregnancy or maternity
We will:
- ensure that people are treated with respect and dignity and that a positive image is promoted regardless of pregnancy or maternity
- challenge discriminatory assumptions about the pregnancy or maternity of our employees and
- ensure that no individual is disadvantaged and that we take account of the needs of our employees’ pregnancy or maternity.
Marriage or civil partnership
We will:
- ensure that people are treated with respect and dignity and that a positive image is promoted regardless of marriage or civil partnership;
- challenge discriminatory assumptions about the marriage or civil partnership of our employees, workers or self-employed contractors and
- ensure that no individual is disadvantaged and that we take account the needs of our employees’ marriage or civil partnership.
Ex-offenders
We will prevent discrimination against our employees regardless of their offending background (except where there is a known risk to children or vulnerable adults)
Equal Pay
We will ensure that all employees, no matter their gender have the right to the same contractual pay and benefits for carrying out the same work, work rated as equivalent work or work of equal value.
Unconscious bias
The College recognises the dangers of unconscious bias arising at work, which is where an opinion is formed of an individual by a manager or colleague without them necessarily being aware they have formed it.
There are many different forms of unconscious bias, ranging from an affinity towards those of a similar background to placing too much significance on what has been identified as a negative trait.
The College will work against forms of unconscious bias in all decisions taken for employment, including recruitment, promotion and training opportunities, with a focus on promoting diversity and inclusion.
- Anonymized recruitment short-listing
- Omitting all personal questions from job interviews
- Maintaining a diverse panel to make decisions
- Referring to specific job criteria when making recruitment decisions
- Discounting any favourable personal relationships with staff.
- Making decisions collectively between HR and management.
- Use of application forms to apply for vacancies