- Name the protected characteristics and the forms discrimination takes
- Tell the difference between equality, equity and inclusion in practice
- Respond in the moment when something discriminatory is said
The nine protected characteristics
The Equality Act 2010 protects: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation.
Discrimination takes four main forms:
- Direct - treating someone worse because of a characteristic.
- Indirect - a rule that applies to everyone but disadvantages a group without good reason.
- Harassment - unwanted conduct that violates dignity or creates a hostile environment.
- Victimisation - treating someone badly for raising a complaint or supporting one.
There is also a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled people.
Equality, equity, inclusion, belonging
They are not synonyms:
- Equality - same treatment.
- Equity - different support so the outcome is fair.
- Inclusion - the environment works for people once they are in it.
- Belonging - people do not have to leave part of themselves at the door.
An organisation can be legally equal and still exclusionary. The test is not the policy, it is what happens in an ordinary week.
In a team meeting someone makes a joke about a colleague's accent. Two people laugh, the colleague says nothing. What is the best response?
Small things that change a culture
- Use the name and pronunciation someone actually uses.
- Rotate who takes notes and who chairs.
- Check meeting times against caring responsibilities and prayer times.
- Say what an adjustment is for, not who asked for it.
- When you get it wrong, correct it briefly and carry on. Long apologies centre you, not them.
5 questions. Pick an answer to see whether it is right and why.
1.How many protected characteristics are in the Equality Act 2010?
2.A policy that applies to everyone but disadvantages one group is potentially:
3.Treating someone badly because they supported a colleague's complaint is:
4.Equity means:
5.Someone makes a discriminatory remark in a meeting. The strongest response is to:
What is one thing in your team's normal week that quietly excludes someone?
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