What is an Equality Plan?
An equality plan outlines how your company’s equality and diversity policy will be implemented.
Your equality and diversity policy should explain your business’ stance on diversity and set out legal rights and obligations of your staff. It is your promise to treat all employees, and potential employees, fairly and considerately.
| Your equality plan allows you to integrate equality into your performance management system, quality initiatives and corporate planning processes. It should allow for an integrated approach to the promotion of equality of opportunity on grounds of:
- age
- sexual orientation
- religious or similar philosophical belief
- race
- disability
- political opinion
- sex
- marital status
- persons with or without dependants
- gender reassignment
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This provides employers with a practical and manageable framework for coordinating all aspects of equality work undertaken within your organisation. It specifically refers to employment practices and access to services and is:
- A voluntary initiative driven by the needs and priorities of your organisation
- A plan that allows for an integrated approach to the promotion of equality across nine grounds (age, sexual orientation, religious belief, race, disability, political opinion, sex, marital status, persons with or without dependants)
- A flexible structure which can be tailored to meet the specific needs of your company
- A framework for undertaking an Equality Impact Assessment of employment policies and practices
- A way of integrating equality into performance management systems, quality initiatives and corporate planning processes
- Development of action plans to promote affirmative & positive action.
Equality plans can also be used to develop plans to promote affirmative and positive action where this is deemed appropriate.
Do you require assistance?
The Equality Commission can assist you to develop an Equality Plan that will match the specific needs of your organisation.