Equality and Diversity

The EssentialSkillz Equality and Diversity eLearning course covers the importance of the Equality Act 2010 in the workplace and highlights the need to ensure that discriminatory practices are avoided, both through actions and words. Everyone, from part-time workers to managers and employers, has a responsibility to promote fairness and respect and should strive towards achieving a culture free of discrimination, harassment, victimisation and bullying. The course helps to promote a culture in which these behaviours are known to be unacceptable, where individuals feel confident to bring complaints without fear of reprisal and where complaints are taken seriously and dealt with promptly.

We live in a diverse, multicultural, multigenerational, global society and it is only set to become even more so in the future. A successful organisation is one that mirrors this society, employing those with the right skills, ensuring that there is no discrimination and providing equality of opportunity for the workforce. These responsibilities are captured in the Equality Act 2010, the primary legislation that protects people from discrimination both in the workplace and in wider society.

The EssentialSkillz Equality and Diversity eLearning course explains what equality and diversity means, both in legal terms and within your organisation, and describes specific responsibilities for you and your employees. The online course also explores the different protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion and belief, and sex and sexual orientation.

Part of your responsibilities as an employer is to implement an Equality and Diversity Policy, and the course can help you to communicate the principles of this policy to your employees, as well as demonstrate what is reasonable and acceptable behaviour and what is not. An important element of the online learning is to highlight what your employees should do if they feel discriminated against, or if they witness others being victimised.

Crucially – and as with all our courses – the EssentialSkillz Equality and Diversity eLearning course can be tailored to the needs of your organisation, at no additional cost. Your course administrator can update text and other course content using our integrated authoring tool, and link to specific policy documentation, so you can be assured that the principles of your Equality and Diversity Policy will be clearly communicated to your staff.

Main Sections within the course:

• Overview
• Types of Discrimination
• Workplace discrimination
• Reporting a concern
• Test

IS IT FOR ME?

This Equality and Diversity eLearning course is perfect for all employees and managers who value equality and diversity and have responsibility for adhering to the Equality Act 2010.

Lesson 1: Overview
Summary

• The Equality Act protects people from discrimination on the basis of 9 protected characteristics.

• Equality and diversity in the workplace help us to appreciate the benefits different people can bring, to facilitate a positive working environment, and to support all individuals to reach their potential.

• Diversity goes further than equality in recognising and valuing differences other than protected characteristics.

Lesson 2: Types of discrimination
Summary

• It is prohibited by law to discriminate against a person based on any of the protected characteristics.

• There are four types of discrimination – direct, indirect, harassment and victimisation.

• Harassment is related to protected characteristics and is covered by the Equality Act.

• Bullying is not protected by the Equality Act and is dealt with under disciplinary and grievance procedures.

• Firm management delivered in a reasonable manner is not considered to be a form of discrimination, harassment or bullying.

Lesson 3: Workplace discrimination
Summary

• The Equality Act protects job applicants and employees from discrimination during recruitment and in the workplace.

• In limited circumstances, indirect discrimination may be lawful if it can be justified – known as ‘objective justification’.

• Employers can take ‘positive action’ to help people with a protected characteristic who are disadvantaged or underrepresented in employment.

• Unconscious bias is where someone is not aware that they discriminate against people.

Lesson 4: Reporting a concern
Summary

• You have a responsibility to report incidences of discrimination or bullying, including those you have witnessed or are aware of to the appropriate person.

• The complaints procedure involves an informal and formal approach.

• In the case of a formal complaint, disciplinary procedures will be initiated.

• You are protected from victimisation if you make a complaint in good faith.

Once the 60 minute course is completed, users will be required to take a final test consisting of as default, 10 required questions out of a bank of 20 questions. The course administrator within your organisation can set a pass threshold, depending on your requirements and decide to implement the random test question feature. On successful completion of the test, users can download and print a certificate.