Diversity in the workplace Information

Diversity is an acceptance of individuality and difference that is based on respect for these unique differences and an acceptance that they can enhance and enrich both people and organisations.

Diversity in the workplace means creating an inclusive environment: one which recognises and embraces people’s differences; which encourages and provides opportunities for all to achieve their full potential; and which in turn allows the organisation to reach as wide an audience as possible.

Valuing diversity means activating and promoting the processes that will achieve this inclusive environment: putting into place policies and procedures that welcome and include different perspectives and practices.

Inclusion is the state where social and environmental barriers to equality of access and opportunity, of contribution to and participation in, society are removed. To achieve inclusion each individual has to take responsibility to remove these barriers.

Discrimination - Direct discrimination occurs when a person can prove they have been treated less favourably than another person on prohibited grounds.

Discrimination - Indirect discrimination occurs where there is a practice, provision or criterion, applied uniformly, but which would put one specific group of people at a particular disadvantage and is not shown to be a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim. This covers formal requirements, conditions and provisions as well as informal practices.

Disability is defined under the Disability Discrimination Act (DDA) as : "A physical or mental impairment which has a substantial and long-term adverse effect on [the person's] ability to carry out normal day to day activities."

Equality is the state or quality of being essentially equal: of being allowed to have equal access and opportunity in society.

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