Making your workplace inclusive

As an employer, you should take steps to make your workplace inclusive.

Having a workplace policy

A good start is to have a workplace policy covering equality, diversity and inclusion. This might also be called an 'equal opportunities policy'.

A policy helps everyone to know:

• the business supports and treats everyone fairly
• what kind of behaviour is expected of them
• about discrimination and the law, and what is not acceptable
• where to find the procedures for resolving any problems

Your policy could also point employees to any extra activities or services that your workplace offers, such as:

• staff networks
• employee assistance groups or programmes

When developing a policy, you should:

• consult with your employees and any representatives
• follow any existing consultations or arrangements with employees or their representatives
• make an action plan including what steps will be taken to make sure the policy is put into everyday practice

The action plan should include:

• how to get staff on board, for example training for all staff so they all understand the policy, and what needs to happen to make it work in practice
• how to best monitor and measure if the policy and plan are working as intended, and record those results
• how to work out if the policy is effective and what needs to change
• who will put the policy and plan into practice and by when

Check equality, diversity and inclusion in your workplace

Use our equality, diversity and inclusion policy template

Putting the policy into action

Employers, managers and employees should all understand the importance of equality, diversity and inclusion in all areas of work, including:

• recruiting new staff
• training and promoting existing staff
• equal pay
• religious beliefs and practice
• dress code
• unacceptable behaviour
• the dismissal of staff
• redundancy
• different types of leave for parents
• flexible working

If you run a small business

If you have a small business or organisation and feel you do not have enough resources to draw up and see through an action plan, you can still do what you can. For example, staff training.

Recruitment

When looking to hire new staff, you should advertise in at least 2 different places to reach a wide range of people from different backgrounds.

You can also promote your values as an equal opportunities employer and how you welcome applications from:

• anyone who believes they meet the essential requirements of the job
• anyone under-represented in the organisation – this is called positive action

For example, you might say that applications from qualified candidates with disabilities are welcome.

If you take positive action, you must be able to prove it's been reasonably thought through and does not discriminate against others.

You could get managers trained on skills that help them including:

• use the job description and person specification to choose the best applicants
• have an inclusive attitude
• avoid making decisions based on what they think or believe about a person because of their protected characteristics (unconscious bias)

Find out more about how to hire staff

Training and development

Equality, diversity and inclusion should also have a place in the training, development and promotion of staff. This includes:

• training and development for employees and managers, for example, so staff have access to opportunities without prejudice because of a protected characteristic
• new staff inductions, for example, so everyone gets on board straight away with the equality, diversity and inclusion policy
• performance review processes and promotions, for example, so there are no questions about whether or not an employee fits in because of their protected characteristic

Training should show why it's important to value everyone's differences and how to do this. You can get Acas training in equality, diversity and inclusion.

Employees should feel they can apply for more senior roles, regardless of a protected characteristic.

Equal pay

You should check regularly that all employees doing equal work have equal:

• pay
• benefits
• terms and conditions in their employment contracts

The equal pay law is aimed at equal pay for men and women doing equal work. But pay discrimination claims could be made for any protected characteristic, for example age, disability, race or religion.

Find out more about equal pay

Religious beliefs and practice

The law protects from discrimination, harassment and victimisation because of:

• religion
• religious belief
• having less belief than someone else or no belief

You should make sure that all employees are treated fairly, regardless of their beliefs or lack of belief, and address any issues as soon as possible.

For example, you find out there’s religiously offensive graffiti in the staff toilet. You should make sure it’s removed as soon as possible and that the incident is thoroughly investigated and handled fairly.

You should also try to agree to employees' requests, where reasonable, for time off for religious festivals and to pray at work. Refusing a request for religious practice without a good business reason may be discrimination. This could also apply to other things such as dietary requirements.

Religion and belief discrimination can be a complex area. If you need to talk it through, you can contact the Acas helpline.

Dress code

You should check your workplace dress code does not discriminate against any protected characteristics.

Unacceptable behaviour

Your workplace policies and practices should make clear what counts as unacceptable behaviour at work.

You should follow full and fair grievance and disciplinary procedures.

Dismissals

If you dismiss someone because of a protected characteristic, it could be discrimination and they could claim unfair dismissal at an employment tribunal.

If someone is bullied or harassed but you do nothing to stop it and they leave their job, they could claim constructive dismissal at an employment tribunal.

Find out more about dismissals

Redundancy

When selecting staff for redundancy, you should be careful to not make decisions affected by unconscious bias and protected characteristics.

Find out more about selecting employees for redundancy

Parents who are on leave

You should make sure employees do not miss out on job or training opportunities and are informed about any important matters and changes in their workplace. This includes those who are away from work because of:

• antenatal appointments
• pregnancy
• maternity leave
• paternity leave
• adoption leave
• shared parental leave
• caring for children

Find out more about leave for parents

Flexible working

Allowing employees flexible working where possible could avoid the risk of discrimination against an employee because of a protected characteristic.

Find out more about flexible working

Communication

Employees are more likely to get onboard with your organisation's purpose and values if they:

• feel valued
• are clear what the organisation's purpose and values are
• understand how they play a part in achieving your organisation's goals

You could help employees feel included in your organisation by:

• talking openly with them
• letting them know how the business is doing
• being clear about any changes, decisions or plans

You could also hold open (or 'town hall') meetings, where employees can meet and ask senior managers questions.

Leadership

You and any senior managers should be role models for inclusive behaviour.

It's good practice to:

• encourage everyone to have a more inclusive attitude
• give managers training that helps them see the importance of their role in shaping your workplace culture
• have an equality, diversity and inclusion champion at senior level who can speak up for under-represented groups and flag any issues that need addressing
• look out for signs of discrimination, inequality and exclusion, and address them as soon as possible

Promoting inclusive events and activities

You could also hold activities and events that encourage inclusion in the workplace, such as:

• Black History Month
• LGBT History Month
• Mental Health Awareness Week