Equal Opportunities Policies: what you need to know

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An equal opportunities policy is a mission statement about an employer’s treatment of job applicants and staff. The policy should not only deal with race but should also indicate that there will be equal treatment in respect of: 

• race, ethnicity and nationality;
• gender;
• disability;
• age;
• sexual orientation; and
• religion and belief.

Not only will an equal opportunities policy promote equal opportunities, having such a policy should help employers to comply with their legal obligations under the various anti-discrimination legislation.

Not only will an equal opportunities policy promote equal opportunities, having such a policy should help employers to comply with their legal obligations under the various anti-discrimination legislation.  

An employer may be able to establish a defence to a discrimination claim, where an employee has committed an act of discrimination, by showing either that he has taken reasonably practicable steps to prevent the particular act of discrimination or to prevent that kind of act in general.

To find out more about equal opportunities policies, download this white paper now »

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