Equal Opportunities Policy Statement
We are an equal opportunities Employer. We are committed to ensuring that all our staff and applicants for employment are protected from unlawful discrimination in employment.
What is Discrimination?
· Direct discrimination occurs where someone is treated less favourably and put at a disadvantage on discriminatory grounds in relation to his or her employment. Direct discrimination may even occur unintentionally.
· Indirect discrimination occurs where the individual’s employment is subject to an unjustified condition which one person, due to for example sex, race, age, nationality, religion, or religious or philosophical belief, finds more difficult to meet although, on the face of it, the condition or requirement is neutral.
· Victimisation occurs were an individual is treated less favourably than colleagues because s/he has taken action to assert their statutory rights under the Equality Act or assisted a colleague with information in that regard.
· Harassment occurs where an individual is subjected to unwanted conduct related to a relevant Protected Characteristic that has the purpose or effect of violating that person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for the individual.
This can include conduct which is related to the Protected Characteristic of the victim or another person (i.e. a colleague for instance).
This means that any comments or actions directed at a person which relate to another person still constitutes harassment and is therefore unlawful.
Our Commitment
· All Employees and job applicants will be treated equally, fairly and with respect.
· Training, development and progression opportunities are available to all Employees
· No Employee or potential Employee will receive less favourable treatment or will be discriminated against on the grounds of sex, race, colour, religion, religious or philosophical belief, nationality, ethnic or national origin, age, marital status, civil partnership, disability, sexual orientation, trade union membership or activity or on the basis of gender re-assignment.
· All Employees have a personal responsibility for the application of this equal opportunity policy, which extends to the treatment of both fellow Employees and patients.
· Any Employee who believes s/he may have been unfairly discriminated against is encouraged to use our grievance procedure.
· Any Employee who conducts himself or herself in a discriminatory manner (whether on the grounds of sex, race, colour, religion, religious or philosophical belief, nationality, age, ethnic origin, marital status, civil partnership, disability, sexual orientation or gender re-assignment) towards another Employee, patient or member of the public will be guilty of gross misconduct and will be subject to disciplinary action.
