Equality and Diversity Policy

  1. PURPOSE
    1.1 Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd is committed to promoting equality and diversity and promoting a culture that actively values difference and recognises that people from different backgrounds and experiences can bring valuable insights into the workplace and enhance the
    way we work. Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd aims to be an inclusive organisation, where diversity is valued, respected, and built upon, with ability to recruit and retain a diverse
    workforce that reflects the communities it serves. Within this framework the library specifically refers to measures it has in place to provide equality of opportunity and the facilities that it can provide for its diverse workforce and job applicants.
    1.2 Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd is also committed to compliance with relevant equality legislation, the Equality Act 2010, Codes of Practice, and relevant best practice guidance. This policy pursues and builds on the statutory position to ensure effective policies and practice of promoting equality.
    1.3 Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd aims to proactively tackle discrimination or
    disadvantages and aims to ensure that no individual or group is directly or indirectly
    discriminated against for any reason with regard to employment or accessing its services.
    1.4 However, Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd is also mindful of the provision in discrimination law for the rare circumstances when an organisation may need to justify discrimination rather than have a disproportionate effect. This could be, for instance, where there is a conflict with other legislation that Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd must comply with or between service needs. In such circumstances Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd is committed to following the required proper assessment and objective justification of any decision in order to demonstrate that the provision, criterion, or practice is a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
    1.5 Issues regarding harassment and bullying are covered in the Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination Policy. For issues regarding recruitment refer also to the Recruitment policy.
  2. DEFINITION OF EQUALITY AND DIVERSITY
    2.1 Equality can be described as breaking down barriers, eliminating discrimination and ensuring equal opportunity and access for all groups both in employment, and to goods and services; the basis of which is supported and protected by legislation.
    2.2 Diversity can be described as celebrating differences and valuing everyone. Each person is an individual with visible and non-visible differences and by respecting this everyone can feel valued for their contributions which is beneficial not only for the individual but for Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd.
    2.3 Equality and Diversity are not inter-changeable but inter-dependent. There can be no equality of opportunity if difference is not valued and harnessed and taken account of.
  1. SCOPE
    3.1 This policy applies to direct employees of Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd, workers (engaged through, or by, an employment agency or bureau and supplied to Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd on a temporary basis), and all job applicants regarding recruitment.
    3.2 Where Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd are provided by external contractors or third parties on the basis of a specification set by Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd, these contractors or third parties are responsible for adhering to Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd Equality and Diversity Policy whilst providing services on behalf of Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd.
    3.3 This policy applies also to sub-contractors Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd will monitor the performance of contractors and/or third parties and take all necessary steps to ensure good performance and compliance with appropriate behaviours. However, if any issues become apparent with regards to diversity or equality in relation to any contractor or third party, these will be taken very seriously by Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd and raised in the strongest possible terms with the contractor or third party.
  2. POLICY STATEMENT
    4.1 Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd is committed to ensuring:
  • That existing members of staff, job applicants, or workers are treated fairly in an environment which is free from any form of discrimination.
  • With regard to nine of the protected characteristics as outlined by the Equality Act 2010 which are:
  • Age.
  • Disability.
  • Gender reassignment.
  • Marriage and civil partnership.
  • Pregnancy and maternity.
  • Race (includes colour, nationality and ethnic origins);
  • Religion and our belief.
  • Sex.
  • Sexual orientation.
    In addition, existing members of staff, job applicants, or workers are treated fairly in an environment which is free from any form of discrimination regarding: caring responsibilities, part-time employment, membership, or non-membership of a trade union or spent convictions.
  • All employment-related policies, practices and procedures are applied impartially and objectively.
  • Equality of opportunity to all and to provide staff with the opportunity to develop and realise their full potential.
  • Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd works towards achieving a diverse workforce at all levels.
  • Employees of Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd can work in an atmosphere of dignity and respect.
  • 4.2 Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd and Diversity policy provides a clear framework for translating our policy into action. It outlines the responsibilities of the Board, CEO, Executive Team, managers, and individuals to comply with the Equality Act 2010. Both management and Trade Union Side are strongly committed to its full and active implementation.
  • 4.3 Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd will not tolerate processes, attitudes and behaviour that amounts to direct discrimination, associative discrimination, discrimination by perception, indirect discrimination including harassment (harassment by a third party), victimisation and bullying through prejudice, ignorance, thoughtlessness, and stereotyping. See Section 11 and Appendix I below for further explanation of these concepts.
  • 4.4 Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd recognises the importance of monitoring, reviewing, and reporting on its equality and diversity policy and practice and to measure progress in meeting our policy statement. (See section 8).
  • PRACTICAL SUPPORT FOR A DIVERSE WORKFORCE
    5.1 As an employer committed to diversity and equality Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd recognises its success depends on creating a working environment which supports the diverse make-up of its staff with supporting policies and procedures to create a framework of assistance. (See Appendix II for sources of assistance for disabled employees).
    5.2 Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd Equality Impact Assessment policy also sets out the process for ensuring Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd takes account of equality
    considerations which affect its staff and try to minimise or remove disadvantage.
  • WORK/LIFE BALANCE
    6.1 Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd is committed to employees who have commitments outside work, irrespective of whether they have caring responsibilities. Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd are committed to helping its employees fulfil their potential at work whilst finding the right
    work/life balance by offering a Flexible Working Hours Scheme and opportunities to share jobs where appropriate.
    6.2 Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd aims to improve the working lives of its employees by having a framework of policies such as the Statutory Right to Request Flexible Working, Special Leave to help with caring responsibilities and domestic emergencies and Career Breaks.
    6.3 Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd is committed to supporting employees with family commitments such as offering a family-friendly initiative as a flexible way to meet childcare costs. Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd salary-sacrifice scheme allows parents to give-up some of their salary in place of childcare vouchers to be used to pay for childcare. The salary-sacrifice scheme enables employees to use their vouchers in a way which best suits their needs.
  • REVIEW AND MONITORING
    7.1 Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd undertakes monitoring that not only meets statutory
  • Through monitoring any discrimination, Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd will take corrective action to eliminate it.
  • 7.2 The monitoring of Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd workforce is produced across all
  • areas of employment practice and is discussed at the Equality and Diversity Working Group composed of management and the Trade Union Side, and by the various Action groups.
  • 7.3 Such monitoring will be carried out using appropriate statistical analysis, and would normally deal with areas such as race, disability, gender, and age and ensure compliance with legislation. Any resultant statistics and analysis will be kept by the Human Resources Directorate and shared with the trade unions.
  • 7.4 In addition, the Staff Survey is conducted regularly in order to gain the views of all employees and includes a section on diversity and the working environment. Reliable Training &
  • Consultancy Ltd will use the information from the Staff Survey to measure its record on meeting our equality and diversity policy aims.
  • COMPLAINTS OF DISCRIMINATION
    8.1 Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd takes all claims of discrimination very seriously and will take appropriate action against those concerned. Discrimination occurs when someone directly or indirectly treats a person or a group of people unfavourably because of a protected characteristic of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation. This covers all behaviour including remarks and insinuation, both verbal and non-verbal, which cause offence.
    8.2 Any member of staff who is subject to harassment, bullying or discrimination is encouraged to refer to Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd policy on Harassment, Bullying and Discrimination. This provides details of the steps that can be taken to deal with such an issue. In addition, staff
    are reminded that they can obtain external, confidential help if they wish by contacting Reliable Training & Consultancy Ltd Employee Assistance Programme, and/or their HR business partner or trade union representative.
    8.3 If a worker (engaged through, or by, an employment agency or bureau) considers they have been discriminated against they should raise their complaint directly with their employer.
  • RESPONSIBILITIES
    9.1 All staff have a responsibility to guard against any form of discrimination and avoid any action which goes against the spirit of this policy. Thus, staff at all levels must ensure that there is no discrimination against any of their decisions or behaviour. This includes the provision that all staff must:
  • Report any suspected discriminatory acts or practices.
  • Not induce or attempt to induce others to practice unlawful discrimination.
  • Co-operate with any measures introduced to ensure equality of opportunity.
  • Not victimise anyone as a result of them having complained about, reported, or provided evidence of discrimination.
  • Not harassing, abuse, intimidating others.
    9.2 However, whilst all staff have a collective responsibility to ensure this policy is successfully implemented, there are also specific responsibilities within this.