We offer Outsourced HR Services to a range of businesses and organisations. All public sector organisations have extensive responsibilities under existing equality legislation and the new Equality Act 2010. Some organisations will already have strategies and actions in place, including an array of equality impact assessments covering existing policies, practices and processes. This enables them to evidence how equality and diversity is really making a difference to their staff, customers and stakeholders.
The requirements of the new Equality Act 2010 extends the protection given to existing ‘strands’ or groups and has introduced the term ‘protected characteristics’. The new legislation provides wider protection to cover the following ‘protected characteristics’:-
- Age
- Religion or Belief
- Sexual Orientation
- Pregnancy & Maternity
- Sex
- Race
- Disability
- Gender Reassignment
- Marriage & Civil Partnerships
That is not the whole story. It is one thing to ensure compliance to legislation which although important, may lead to nothing more than a tick-box mentality or ensuring inspection and audit activity gives you a good score. Equality & Diversity is about reaching out beyond the requirements of the law, to a position where each of your employees respects the variety and difference that is all round them. It is about recognising dignity in the workplace and creating a culture, which through its homogeneity is able to tap into the wealth of talent that currently goes unrecognised. It also opens the organisation’s services to a wider customer base.
We will support you to think beyond the basics of just legislative compliance or the articulation of the mythical ‘business case’ in justifying your Equality & Diversity work. Whilst the recognition of individual rights and freedoms and the eradication of group based discrimination are important, inequality also comes about as a result of inherent injustices and widespread unfairness.
To make a real difference, the elimination of dysfunctional cultures is imperative if you are to see progress. We will help you deliver an organisational mindset that has the pursuit of fairness at its heart, the appreciation of difference as a core value and a component of policy and practice. The visible and active involvement and endorsement from your top leadership team, is essential in achieving a positive workplace culture. Without this, you will continue to miss out on the benefits to your organisation and spend your time ticking boxes.
If you need quality Outsourced HR services PSNW can assist you with all of this, whether it is ensuring compliance, or grasping the entire concept of real diversity and inclusion to the benefit of your organisation.