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Equal Opportunities
What is Employment Equal Opportunities all about?
Employment Equal Opportunities is about:
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Ensuring that places of work do not have people being unlawfully discriminated against or harassed.
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members of Equal Opportunities groups having access to relevant training programs to help them to overcome disadvantage in their current or past situations.
In summary, employment equal opportunities is making sure that in the places that people work in have rules, policies, practices and behaviours, which make their environment a fair place to work and that people are not at a disadvantage simply because they belong to a certain 'group'.
If this environment of equal opportunities can be achieved, then it should be the case that every employee feels that they are duly and appropriately valued and respected. It should be the case that all workers feel that they have the equal opportunities to develop their full potential and pursue the career that they are choosing for themselves.
People in certain groups may not have had equal opportunities and may have been affected by discrimination in employment that is or has occurred in their past or current situation. Due to this discrimination, they may suffer a lack of equal opportunities as it could be that such a person may be more likely to be unemployed or get jobs that only have relatively low salaries.
These groups are often:
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women
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members of racial, ethnic, and ethno-religious minority groups
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people with a disability
What are the ways to improve employment Equal Opportunities
for these groups?
There are many ways in which those in these groups can get assistance to ensure they have access to equal opportunities in their workplace. One such option is the concept of employment programmes which are based on the needs of individuals who may be subject to a lack of equal opportunities.
These programmes could cover:
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Looking at a person's place of work and making suitable adjustments for an employee with a disability.
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Giving out courses to develop people in equal opportunities groups, for example, management training.
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Managers being trained so that they can find problems and make changes in the work environment and to facilitate equal opportunities by encouraging group participation.
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Looking for and implementing equal opportunities group networks
How does Equal Opportunities affect you as an
Employee?
As a staff member, in terms of equal
opportunities, you have the right to:
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work in an environment that has equal opportunities for you and your colleagues.
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have fair treatment in regard to the practices and behaviour in your work environment
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have access to relevant training so that you can develop and become more productive in your work. This should also allow you to pursue your chosen career path.
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equal opportunities for benefits and flexible working arrangements in your place of work and a reasonable workloads and appropriate processes to deal with work-related complaints and grievances.
Further Information
