Page 5 - Equality-and-Diversity

AQ-SP12
Aquabio Guideline Document Equality & Diversity Policy
• Our policy covers all areas of employment including recruitment, promotion, transfers, training, pay and benefits, access to facilities and services, disciplinary and grievance procedures and to any decisions on employment being brought to an end.
• Colleagues have the right not to be treated less favourably (victimised) because they have complained that they have suffered discrimination or supported another colleague in their complaint.
• We may choose to take positive action to address any under-representation of a particular group within our business, for example women in driving positions.
• Reasonable adjustments may be made to assist colleagues who require alternations to their working environment, hours, equipment or role for reasons covered by this policy. Examples could include a colleague who makes us aware that they have a disability.
• If any colleague is found to have breached this policy, corrective action will be taken either through re-training or, in more serious cases disciplinary action which could result in dismissal.
2.3. DEFINITIONS
2.3.1. Direct Discrimination
Direct discrimination happens when someone is treated less favourably than someone else because of one of the protected characteristics referred to above. For example, it would be direct discrimination if a driving job was only open to male applicants.
2.3.2. Indirect Discrimination
Indirect discrimination is when a working condition or rule disadvantages one group of people more than another. For example, saying that applicants for a job must be clean shaven puts members of some religious groups at a disadvantage. Indirect discrimination is unlawful, whether or not it is done on purpose. Having such a working condition or rules is only allowed if it is for a genuine business reason and there is no other less discriminatory way of achieving it. For example, the condition that applicants must be clean shaven might be justified if the job involved handling food and it could be shown that having a beard or moustache was a genuine hygiene risk.
2.3.3. Victimisation
Victimisation means treating somebody less favourably than others because they tried to make, or made, a complaint about discrimination, for example, preventing someone from
Aquabio Limited - Registered No. 3379754 England Page 5 of 7 Aquabio Limited is part of the Freudenberg Filtration Technology group of companies