SIGHTLINE VISION (NORTH WEST) LIMITED
(REFERRED TO AS SIGHTLINE IN THIS DOCUMENT)
Policy statement
Sightline is committed to ensuring that, as far as is practicable, all employees, workers, casual workers, interns and work placements, volunteers, job applicants, service users, prospective Trustees and Trustees and other people we work with are treated with respect and dignity and are not subjected to unfair or unlawful discrimination.
A key objective of our Equality and Diversity Policy is that we provide a working environment in which current and potential employees feel comfortable and confident that they will be treated fairly and equally, irrespective of age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage or civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex or sexual orientation (“protected characteristics” as per the Equality Act 2010) or indeed any other characteristic unrelated to the performance of the job.
The principles of non-discrimination and equality of opportunity also apply to the way in which we treat service users, visitors, suppliers, partners, stakeholders, and former colleagues.
The success of our organisation depends on the people we work with. We recognise that an effective Equality and Diversity Policy will help everyone to develop to their full potential, which is clearly in the best interests of individuals and Sightline.
We further recognise the benefits of employing individuals from a range of backgrounds, as this creates a workforce where creativity and valuing difference in others thrives. We value the wealth of experience within the community in which we operate and aspire to have a workforce that reflects this.
This policy covers all aspects of employment including advertisements, recruitment and selection, induction, pay, conditions of service, training, and development, change management and grievance and disciplinary procedures.
This policy is not contractual but sets out the way in which Sightline aims to manage equality and address diversity in the workplace. We reserve the right to vary, replace or terminate it at any time.
Scope of this policy
This policy applies to all employees as well as volunteers and casual and agency workers (referred to collectively as “workers” for the purposes of this policy, where relevant) and Trustees.
Legal considerations
The main legislation that covers equal opportunities and discrimination is the Equality Act 2010. In addition, the following should be taken into consideration:
- the Rehabilitation of Offenders Act 1974
- the Protection from Harassment Act 1997
- the Human Rights Act 1998
- the Sex Discrimination (Gender Reassignment) Regulations 1999
- the Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006
- the Enterprise and Regulatory Reform Act 2013
- any Codes of Practice issued by the Equality and Human Rights Commission
plus, any amendments to the above legislation.
Definitions
Discrimination by or against a worker is generally prohibited unless there is a specific legal exception. Discrimination may occur intentionally or unintentionally, and can take different forms, for example:
- direct discrimination: treating an individual with one or more of the protected characteristics less favourably than others
- indirect discrimination: unjustified provisions, criterion, or practice e.g., our policies, procedures, or practices, which are applied to everyone, or groups of people, but have, or will have, the effect of putting those who share a protected characteristic at a particular disadvantage when compared to others
- harassment: unwanted conduct linked to a protected characteristic which violates an individual’s dignity, or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment for them
- victimisation: treating a person less favourably because they have committed a “protected act”. “Protected acts” include making or supporting an allegation of discrimination, or giving evidence relating to an allegation of discrimination, or raising a grievance about equality or discrimination.
- discrimination by association: an individual is discriminated against because they associate with someone, e.g., a family member, who possesses a protected characteristic
- discrimination by perception: an individual is perceived as having a protected characteristic, irrespective of whether or not this perception is correct
On all occasions where those with managerial or supervisory responsibility for workers are required to make decisions between them, for example disciplinary matters, selection for training, promotion, pay increases, redundancy etc it is essential that merit, experience, skills, and temperament are considered as objectively as possible.
Responsibility for this policy
The overall responsibility for implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of this policy rests with the Charity Director.
Managers and supervisors have a crucial role to play in promoting equality of opportunity in their own areas of responsibility. As employers we are liable for the actions of our workers, and therefore our managers are responsible for this policy’s successful implementation and should take steps to ensure their team understand and follow this policy.
All workers, irrespective of their job or seniority, should familiarise themselves with this policy and be aware of their own responsibility and role in promoting equality of opportunity and not discriminating unfairly or harassing colleagues, job applicants or ex-workers, nor encouraging others to do so or tolerating such behaviour. Any worker who witnesses behaviour or decisions that seem contrary to this policy, or experience it directly, are encouraged to challenge these or raise the issues with their manager.
Workers should be aware that not only is the employer liable for any cases of discrimination or harassment that occur, but individuals also may be held personally liable for their own acts and behaviour.
Aims of this policy
Our aim is to provide a working environment free from harassment, intimidation or discrimination in any form that may affect the dignity of an individual.
Whilst we fully accept all of our responsibilities under the current legislation outlined above, we also aim to go beyond the confines of the law to provide equality of opportunity for all. We aim to:
- recognise that everyone has a right to their distinctive and diverse identities
- ensure that all workers and potential workers are treated fairly and with respect at all stages of their employment
- understand how diversity can improve our ability to provide better services, and therefore have a workforce which generally reflects the service users we serve
- provide services which are responsive to the needs of our service users
- provide all workers with the necessary support, training, and development they need to contribute to the organisation’s objectives and goals
- provide a supportive, open environment where all workers may use their talents fully, and where workers and service users are treated fairly and with dignity and respect, in an environment free from harassment and bullying of any description, or any other form of unwanted behaviour.
Learning to work with people’s differences, visible or not, enables us to all work together effectively and helps us to anticipate and meet the needs of all of our service users; recruit, retain and develop the best people; act responsibly in the communities of which we are a part and also fulfil our legal commitments.
The working environment
We will take all reasonable steps to ensure that our working environment does not prevent people from taking up positions for which they are suitably qualified. This may include physical adaptations or more flexible ways of working (where appropriate and practical).
Terms and conditions of employment
Our employment policies and procedures will be reviewed regularly to improve, amend, or adapt current practices to promote equality of opportunity within Sightline, and to remove barriers experienced by members of disadvantaged social groups in seeking employment with us and working with us.
We will ensure that all of our employment policies including compensation, benefits and any other relevant issues associated with terms and conditions of employment, are formulated, and applied without regard to age, disability, gender reassignment, pregnancy and maternity, marriage or civil partnership, race, religion or belief, sex, or sexual orientation.
These will be reviewed regularly to ensure there is no discrimination. Length of service as a qualifying criterion for benefits will not exceed five years unless clearly justifiable.
Employees will not be subjected to any detriment if they wish to join our pension scheme, nor will they be offered any inducement not to do so. This would include refusing promotion or training to someone who decided not to opt-out, or refusing or reducing a pay increase if it would bring the employee within the band of earnings that would make them eligible for auto-enrolment etc.
Recruitment and selection
We aim, through appropriate information, training, and supervision, to ensure that all employees and Trustees who are responsible for recruitment and selection are familiar with this policy.
We aim to ensure that our recruitment practices are free from unlawful discrimination. Our normal recruitment and selection processes will be adjusted where necessary to ensure applicants with disabilities are not disadvantaged.
Job adverts will normally state: “Sightline is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity”.
Job descriptions and person specifications will be reviewed to ensure that criteria are not applied which are either directly or indirectly discriminatory and that they do not impose any condition or requirement which cannot be justified by the demands of the post. Shortlisting and interviewing will normally be carried out by more than one person, to minimise the risk of conscious or unconscious bias.
Selection will, as far as possible, be conducted on an objective basis and will focus on the applicants’ suitability for the job and their ability to fulfil the job requirements. Our interest is in the skills, abilities, qualifications, aptitude, and the potential of individuals to do the job.
Questions asked of candidates will relate to information that will help assess their ability to do the job. Questions about marriage plans, family intentions, religious or political beliefs (unless a Genuine Occupational Requirement applies to the role), caring responsibilities, intention to join our pension scheme or to opt out, or about any other issues which may give rise to suspicions of unlawful discrimination should not be asked.
Selection tests will be specifically related to the job, measuring an individual’s actual, or inherent, ability to do or train for the job.
Training and development
We recognise that our ability to meet the diverse needs of our service users is improved by having a workforce which has the skills and understanding to achieve our objectives. All workers will be encouraged to discuss their career prospects and training needs with their manager. We are committed to ensuring that, wherever possible, all workers receive the widest possible range of development opportunities for advancement in line with the needs of Sightline.
Induction training will include awareness of our Equality and Diversity Policy, and how it applies to individuals.
The provision of training will be reviewed to ensure that provisions are made where necessary to enable part-time workers, shift, or remote workers or those returning to work following a break to benefit from training. No age limits apply for entry to training or development schemes which are open to all employees.
Flexibility
We recognise the benefits of helping our workers to balance the responsibilities of their work and private life. We will consider any requests for flexible working in a way which aims to balance the needs of the individual and our organisation.
Disability
We aim to provide a safe working environment for workers with disabilities. We will make reasonable adjustments to the workplace and/or working arrangements for people with disabilities where they cause disadvantage to the person.
If, due to changing circumstances, an employee with disabilities is unable to carry out their existing duties, every effort will be made to find suitable alternative employment within the organisation, and retraining will be provided as necessary.
Where an employee without disabilities becomes disabled during their employment, we will make every effort to facilitate continued employment in their existing job. Where this is not possible, suitable alternative employment will be considered, and we may provide training and support as required.
Whilst we will make every effort to retain employees in these circumstances, we cannot make any guarantees about continued employment.
Bullying and Harassment
Bullying and harassment, i.e., conduct that violates a person’s dignity, or behaviour against an individual that is intimidating, degrading, offensive, humiliating, or malicious will not be tolerated. It is normally characterised by more than one incident of unacceptable behaviour, particularly if it recurs once it has been made clear by the individual that they consider it offensive. However, one incident may also constitute harassment if it is sufficiently serious. It includes not only situations occurring whilst at work, but also at any time on our premises, or externally whilst attending social functions or training courses etc in the course of our employment. It also includes emails, phone calls and texts made outside of work using either our or the worker’s own equipment, as well as via social media sites.
Any acts of bullying or harassment committed in the course of employment with Sightline will not be tolerated. Any individual who feels that they have been subjected to harassment or bullying should, where they feel able to do so, inform the perpetrator, either verbally or in writing, that the behaviour is unacceptable to them, and it must stop. Where this fails, or a serious incident of bullying or harassment occurs, the worker should refer to our Grievance Procedure (or, if a volunteer or casual or agency worker, discuss their concern with a manager).
Equally, anyone who witnesses incidents of harassment or bullying should report this to their line manager or the Charity Director. Serious examples of bullying and harassment may constitute gross misconduct which could lead to summary dismissal, in accordance with our Disciplinary Procedure.
Grievances, disputes, and disciplinary procedure
Employees who believe they have been discriminated against should bring this to our attention as soon as possible. In the first instance, employees are encouraged to do this informally, but where it has not been possible to resolve this informally, or where the matter is particularly serious, they are advised to use our internal Grievance Procedure. An employee who brings a genuine complaint of discrimination must not be victimised or less favourably treated as a result. However, allegations made for malicious reasons or in pursuit of a personal grudge will be managed under the appropriate disciplinary procedures.
When dealing with general disciplinary matters, care is to be taken that employees who have, are perceived to have, or are associated with someone who has, a protected characteristic is not dismissed or disciplined for performance, conduct or behaviour which could be overlooked or condoned in other employees.
References
We will not discriminate against individuals who have left Sightline by providing references that are not based on factual information.
Retirement
We have no fixed retirement age and employees who wish to work beyond State Pension Age may choose to do so.
Involvement
We will take appropriate steps to encourage the participation of all workers to ensure that, wherever possible, our employment practices recognise and meet their needs. We will involve our workers in determining what can be done to make sure they develop and use their abilities at work.
Communication of this policy
All workers will be made aware of this policy on joining us.
In addition, workers will be reminded of the policy through such means as advertisements, job descriptions, application forms, posters, training courses and memos.
Data Protection
Relevant data will be collected to support this policy. Sightline treats personal data collected by workers or applicants for the purposes of equal opportunity monitoring in accordance with our Data Protection Policy.
Inappropriate access or disclosure of personal data constitutes a data breach and should be reported in accordance with our Data Protection Policy immediately. It may also constitute a disciplinary offence, which will be dealt with under our Disciplinary Procedure.
Implementation, monitoring, and review of this policy
This policy will take effect from 12 July. TheCharity Director has overall responsibility for implementing and monitoring this policy, which will be reviewed on a regular basis following its implementation and may be changed from time to time.
Any queries or comments about this policy should be addressed to the line manager.
Implementation date: May 2022
Signed / Approved by: Peter Howard, Chair of Trustees
Date: 12/07/2022
Review Date: May 2025
Author: See below
Frequency of Review: Every 3 Years
Version: Final
