Equality & Diversity Services

Committed to providing training in the workplace and developing a change in organisation culture

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Affirmative Action
A program policy intended to correct the effects of past discrimination in areas such as employment, education or housing. Usually affirmative action in the UK includes out-reach programmes, setting goals, and extra opportunities for members of underrepresented groups.
Ageism
Stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination against individuals or groups because of their age.
Assimilation
The absorption of an individual or minority group of people into another society or group.
Class
A group of people thought of as a unit because they are similar in terms of social or economic factors.
Disability
Under the Disability Discrimination Act 1995, disability is defined as having an impairment which is either physical or mental, and which has a long term and substantial adverse effect on the individual’s ability to carry out normal day-to-day activities.
Discrimination
The act of distinguishing differences between people and showing favouritism or prejudicial rejection to one or more groups of people. There are two types of discrimination: direct and indirect discrimination.
Direct Discrimination
Direct discrimination consists of treating a person less favourably than others on the grounds of race, gender, disability, religion or belief and sexual orientation. It includes instruction and pressure to discriminate, harass, victimise and racially segregate.
Diversity
Diversity is a term used to describe the recognition that everyone is different and that the differences should be respected, recognised and valued.
Indirect Discrimination
This includes practices which might look fair but which have discriminatory side effects. It applies when an apparently neutral provision, criterion or practice disadvantages members of a specified group relative to others.
Ethnic Group
A category of people considered to be significantly different from others in terms of cultural (eg dialect, religion or traditions) and sometimes physical characteristics (eg skin colour or body shape).
Ethnic Symbol
Selected traits used as symbolic badges of identity to emphasize distinctiveness from other ethnic groups. Dialect, religion and style of dress are common ethnic symbols. Biological characteristics such as skin colour and body shape may be used as ethnic symbols as well.
Equality
In its most basic terms, equality means treating everyone fairly. However, equality is not just about treating everyone the same, but making sure that no-one suffers or is disadvantaged when it comes to getting what they need.
Gender
Gender is the socially constructed roles, behaviours, activities, and attributes expressed by men and women. It is separate from ‘sex’, which is the biological classification of male or female, based on physiological and biological features.
Genuine Occupational Qualification (GOQ)
Exceptions to the law regarding discrimination are permissible in those cases where someone’s gender, race, religion or belief or sexual orientation is genuinely needed for them to be able to carry out their duties.
Harassment
Harassment is defined as “unwanted conduct related to any of the grounds covered by the legislation which takes place with the purpose or effect of violating the dignity of a person and / or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.”
Impact Assessment
Term used for the process of looking at evidence collected from an organisation in relation to flexible working policies. It examines the organisation, and identifies any under-represented or over-represented groups.
Majority Group
An ethnic/racial group that has the largest population and usually the greatest economic and political power in a society can be referred to as the majority group.
Migrant Workers
A migrant worker is someone who has come from abroad to work in the UK. If a migrant worker has permission to work from the Home Office, then they have the same employment rights as all workers, including the right to a minimum wage and the right to be protected from discrimination.
Minority Group
An group that has a smaller population than the controlling majority group in a society. The group can be identified by ethnicity, race, gender or any other socio-cultural marker.
Positive Action
Where a particular group is underrepresented at work, the law allows employers to take positive action. This can involve giving minority groups of employees encouragement to apply for jobs in which that group is under-represented, or training to help them develop their potential and improve their chances of competing for particular work.
Positive Discrimination
Positive discrimination refers to the preferential treatment of members of a minority group over a majority group, and it is generally unlawful. There is, however, lawful exception which allows a form of positive discrimination in training, or in encouraging people from minority groups to apply for particular work.
Prejudice
The acts of judging someone or something based on stereotypes.
Race
The term race refers to the concept of dividing people into groups based on shared visible characteristics, such as skin colour or facial features.
Racism
Stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination against individuals or groups because of their race.
Sexism
Stereotyping, prejudice and discrimination against individuals or groups because of their gender.
Sexual Orientation
An attraction towards persons of the same sex (known as homosexual, gay or lesbian), the opposite sex (heterosexual or straight) or both sexes (bisexual).
Single Equality Body – Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC)
A single equality body, the Equality and Human Rights Commission was established on 1st October 2007. It merged the Commission for Racial Equality, The Equal Opportunities Commission and the Disability Rights Commission, and now takes responsibility for the new laws outlawing workplace discrimination on grounds of age, religion, belief and sexual orientation.
Stereotypes
A fixed notion or conception of people based on their group identity. Stereotyping often leads to prejudice and discrimination.
Transgender
Umbrella term for a person who believes their biological sex does not match their assigned gender.
Under-represented Minority Groups
A minority group that has a significantly smaller ratio of its members in education, business and government than other social groups. Under-representation usually results from poverty or/and discrimination.
Vicarious Liability
Vicarious liability is an employer’s legal responsibility for discrimination and harassment which occurs in the workplace or in connection with a person’s employment. The employer is legally responsible unless it can be shown that ‘reasonable steps’ have been made to reduce this liability.
Victimisation
Victimisation occurs when an individual is adversely treated because he or she has made a complaint of discrimination or harassment, or provided evidence in such a case.