Equality is about ensuring everybody has an equal opportunity, and is not treated differently or discriminated against because of their characteristics. Diversity is about taking account of the differences between people and groups of people, and placing a positive value on those differences.
What is equality? Equality is about ensuring that every individual has an equal opportunity to make the most of their lives and talents. It is also the belief that no one should have poorer life chances because of the way they were born, where they come from, what they believe, or whether they have a disability.
Setting clear rules in regards to how people should be treated. Challenging any negative attitudes. Treating all staff and students fairly and equally. Creating an all-inclusive culture for staff and students.
When we're making decisions, the Equality Act 2010 gives us a duty to take into account the need to: eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation. advance equality of opportunity. foster good relations between different parts of the community.
Diversity means having a range of people with various racial, ethnic, socioeconomic, and cultural backgrounds and various lifestyles, experience, and interests. Having a variety of individuals and points of view represented in the department. Diversity is a group of people who are different in the same place.
The Equality Act 2010 protects people from discrimination related to any protected characteristics—of which there are nine. Age. Disability. Gender reassignment.
Adopting diversity policies offers clear benefits for companies and the workforce, such as resolving labour shortages, greater product innovation, enhanced marketing opportunities and a better corporate image.
Despite the importance,
diversity strategies are difficult to
implement.
Diversity is hard to implement
- Involve the entire top management team.
- Adapt the organisational structure.
- Communicate about the initiative on continuous basis.
- Create a formal project plan.
- Change all HR initiatives to include diversity.
Here are some real and immediate benefits to diversity in the workplace:
- A Variety of Perspectives. Put a variety of world views into one room, and you'll come out the other side with better ideas.
- Increased Creativity.
- Increased Productivity.
- Reduced Fear, Improved Performance.
- Boost Your Brand's Reputation.
- Global Impact.
The company must include diversity, equity and inclusion in training programs for all employees and hold managers accountable for hiring, developing and retaining a diverse staff. It may also want to offer a mentoring program to help its diverse staff members with their career goals.
8 Ways to Improve Diversity in the Workplace
- Measure it.
- Remember that diversity is about more than race.
- Recruit over a broader geographic area.
- Focus on retention.
- Pay attention to organizational culture.
- Consider providing diversity training.
- Don't forget to foster diversity at all levels, not just in hiring.
Good equality and diversity practices make sure that the services provided to people are fair and accessible to everyone. They ensure that people are treated as equals, that people get the dignity and respect they deserve and that their differences are celebrated.
Diversity means valuing an individual's right to identify with race, colour, gender, age, religious belief, ethnicity, cultural background, marital or family status, economic circumstance, human capacity, expression of thought and sexual orientation as well as their experiences, skills and capabilities.
Equality is about removing barriers and making sure people from all sections of the community have fair and equal opportunities to access services. Diversity is about respecting and valuing people's differences and treating them in an appropriate way.
Helps to reduce social and economic barriers • Helps people understand social norms • Is morally correct • Reflects the community we serve • Meets local needs • Helps to build a strong community • Supports and encourages social cohesion • Supports minority groups in achieving potential • Raises awareness-displaces
By creating a diverse and equal workplace you are able to draw on a wide range of ideas from a workforce full of different skills, experiences, resources, talents and energies; all of which will give your business a competitive edge against the rest.
Six ways to support diversity and inclusion in the workplace
- Be aware of unconscious bias. Building awareness is a first step towards real change.
- Communicate the importance of managing bias.
- Offer diversity and inclusion training.
- Acknowledge holidays of all cultures.
- Make it easy for your people to participate in employee resource groups.
- Mix up your teams.
Six ways to support diversity and inclusion in the workplace
- Be aware of unconscious bias. Building awareness is a first step towards real change.
- Communicate the importance of managing bias.
- Offer diversity training.
- Acknowledge holidays of all cultures.
- Make it easy for your people to participate in employee resource groups.
- Mix up your teams.
