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Want to stay on the right side of the law? We support businesses and public authorities and help them to promote good practice.
 
 

Hiring new staff

What you need to know

How we can help

Publications

 

Be an equal opportunities employer

When hiring staff it is important to demonstrate that you are an equal opportunities employer. You can do this by:

Creating recruitment & selection procedures

You must have a systematic, fair and objective way to recruit and select employees. Tribunals attach significant weight to evidence which demonstrates that employers properly followed systematic and objective procedures. Having these in place will increase the likelihood that the best and most suitable person will be appointed, and will help your case if you are taken to Tribunal. Develop a written policy & procedure that meets your business needs and addresses the issues listed below.

Recommended downloads:
 

 

Training staff in recruitment & selection

Provide appropriate training to all managers and any other persons who will have a role in implementing the recruitment and selection policy. This will ensure they understand:

 

  • their responsibilities under the employer’s equal opportunities and recruitment and selection policies
  • their and the employer’s responsibilities under current equality legislation
  • the guidance set out in the equality codes of practice and other guidance publications issued by the Equality Commission.

Visit our employer training page
 

Managing vacancies

When a vacancy arises, consideration should be given to whether the vacancy should be filled by redeployment of staff:

 

  • as a reasonable adjustment accommodating the needs of a disabled member of staff
  • to reduce a surplus of staff, including avoidance of potential redundancies
  • as a result of a request for flexible working

 

Situations that employers have also considered include:

 

  • transfer of staff who have received a formal written warning as a result of unsatisfactory performance
  • transfers necessary as a result of disciplinary measures
  • situations involving the personal security of staff
  • transfers necessary as a result of harassment allegations and investigations
 
 

 

The following factors are also important and should be carefully considered:

 


Recruiting People With Disabilities

We have produced new guidance on recruiting people with disabilities. This includes useful information about the reasonable adjustment duty, good practice and taking positive action. Read our guidance





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How we can help

We believe that helping you promote and encourage good equal opportunities practice is as important as enforcing the equality law. Every year, the Commission helps hundreds of businesses and organisations comply with equality laws.

We recognise that employers' needs differ across sectors and businesses – so we tailor our services to meet employers’ varying needs.

Training

We provide high quality training seminars and information sessions to employers on a wide range of equality issues.

These events provide advice and guidance on employers’ duties under current equality laws and on introducing best practice. We recommend that employers carefully consider their needs and choose the seminars and sessions which are of most benefit to them.

 

    Training sessions include:


   •  Introduction to understanding equality
   •  Equality training for line managers
   •  Recruiting fairly
   •  Harassment at work
   •  Pregnancy, maternity and flexible working
   •  Mental ill-health at work
   •  Promoting disability in the workplace 
   •  Reasonable steps defence
   •  How to complete an Article 55 Review
   •  Monitoring form workshops

 




 


 

 










We are flexible in terms of themes covered and can tailor courses to suit employers’ business needs. Further details are available on our employer training page or contact us Tel: 028 90 500 600, email training@equalityni.org

 

In-house training

On occasion, the Commission can provide in-house training for organisations.  Where we agree to such a request, we will normally deliver one session to key staff within the organisation and assist them to disseminate the training internally. For in-house training requests, email training@equalityni.org or Tel: 028 90 500 600.
 

Speakers for your event

If you are organising an equality related event, our staff can share their expertise to highlight relevant issues in equality law that relate to your business priorities. For further information, contact Paul Oakes poakes@equalityni.org  Tel: 028 90 500 600.
 

Employer news ezine

To receive updates on our training seminars, events and employer equality networks sign up to receive our Employer & Service Providers' Newsletter using the subscribe button at the bottom of the page.

 
 

 
Publications

This is a selection of publications that are most relevant to recruitment and selection:
   

Equality Grounds (eg. age, disability, race,)

 

Model policies and procedures

 

Employability toolkit

 
 

Useful website:
 

If you are looking for a particular publication, you can also search our publications database

Please contact our Advice and Compliance team if you need further advice - 028 90 890 888
 
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