Supplier Development Programme
Equality : a short introduction
Webinar
Welcome
We will start shortly
Dr Donald Macaskill
17th March 2015
•What is equality and diversity?
•The Equality Act 2010
•What does it mean for your organisation?
•The role of policies in procurement.
17th March 2015
What’s in a word?
• Equality and Diversity
• What do they mean for you?
• What issues or questions do you have re equality
and diversity?17th March 2015
Political Correctness gone mad!
Everyone should be
treated the same, right?
Being ‘nice’ to minority groups!
It means no one can take a joke
anymore!
Bureaucratic red tape
I am not a racist, sexist or
homophobic, but if I…
Giving black people and women jobs they can’t do
Watering down our own
culture to accommodate
foreigners culture!
It means not saying what you
really think!
Equality
Equality is the current term for ‘Equal Opportunities’. It is based on the legal obligation to comply with anti-discrimination legislation. Equality protects people from being discriminated against on the grounds of group membership i.e. sex, race disability, sexual orientation, religion, belief, or age.
17th March 2015
What’s in a word?
An equal society protects and promotes equal, real freedom and substantive opportunity to live in the ways people value and would choose, so that everyone can flourish.An equal society recognises people’s different needs, situations and goals, and removes the barriers that limit what people can do and can be.
(Equality Review definition 2007)
17th March 2015
Diversity Diversity implies a wide range of conditions and
characteristics. In terms of businesses and their workforces it is about valuing and reaping the benefits of a varied workforce that makes the best of people’s talents whatever their backgrounds. Diversity encompasses visible and non-visible individual differences. It can be seen in the makeup of your workforce in terms of gender, ethnic minorities, disabled people etc.
17th March 2015
17th March 2015
Single Equality Act
The Act became law in April 2010. Most of its provisions were enacted on 1st October 2010. The Public Sector Equality Duties mainly came into force on 8th April 2011.
It concentrates on
Simplifying the legislation Enacting positive action measures re gender
and race Using public sector procurement in a proactive
way
17th March 2015
Protected Characteristics
17th March 2015
The protected characteristics covered by the Equality Act 2010:
age disability gender reassignment marriage and civil partnership pregnancy and maternity race – this includes ethnic or national origins, colour
and nationality religion or belief sex, and sexual orientation.
17th March 2015
Single Equality ActThe law places special responsibilities on public authorities – including local authorities to promote equality.
This has a knock-on effect on private and voluntarysector organisations that carry out ‘functions of a public nature’ on behalf of public authorities. This could include providing services directly to a section of the public such as through holding a public contract.
Along with public authorities, such organisations also have to:
· promote equality of opportunity· promote good relations· promote positive attitudes· eliminate harassment· eliminate unlawful discrimination.
1. Law Statutory requirement –failure to do so could be very costly
2. Business Case Accessing talent, skills and ability from the widest available
sources Accessing potential markets/service users
3. Moral Case Societies expectations Right thing to do! Reputation
15th January 2015
Contact
Dr Donald Macaskill
Equal and Diverse
07545 847382.
Twitter: @ukequality
17th March 2015