Equal Opportunities Policy template
Covers all nine protected characteristics, direct/indirect discrimination, and the statutory defence.
- Equality Act 2010
- Equality Act (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (in force 1 Jan 2024)
What the policy covers
- 1. POLICY STATEMENTyour company is committed to promoting equality of opportunity for all employees, workers, job applicants and others who come into contact with our business.
- 2. THE NINE PROTECTED CHARACTERISTICSThis policy applies to all nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010:
- 5. Pregnancy and maternity6.
- 4. RECRUITMENT AND SELECTIONAll recruitment decisions will be based solely on merit and the requirements of the role.
- 5. REASONABLE ADJUSTMENTSWe have a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled employees and job applicants.
- 7. COMPLAINTSAny employee who believes they have been subject to discrimination, harassment or victimisation should raise a formal complaint under the Grievance Policy.
- 8. EMPLOYER LIABILITY (STATUTORY DEFENCE)Under the Equality Act 2010, your company may be held vicariously liable for the discriminatory acts of employees carried out in the course of employment.
- 9. MONITORING AND REVIEWWe will monitor the composition of our workforce and the outcomes of recruitment, promotion and disciplinary processes to ensure this policy is effective.
Who needs it
Any UK employer with more than a handful of staff. These are the policies a tribunal looks for when something has gone wrong between people.
Questions people ask
Is a equal opportunities policy a legal requirement?
It rests on Equality Act 2010 and Equality Act (Amendment) Regulations 2023 (in force 1 Jan 2024). Some policies must be written down once a business reaches a certain size or does certain work; others are simply how a tribunal, an inspector or a client's auditor expects to see that you have thought about it. A clear, dated, signed policy is the evidence either way. Guidance, not legal advice.
Can I change it to suit how we work?
Yes. Inside Work-Lynx it is a starting point: put your company name in, adjust the arrangements to what you actually do, set the review date and publish it. Staff read and acknowledge it on their phones, and you can see who has not.
Is it up to date?
Last reviewed January 2024. The pack is updated when the law moves, and every policy carries a review date so it does not quietly go stale.
How do I get it?
It is preloaded in Work-Lynx with the other 48 UK policies. Work-Lynx is £2.50 a month plus £1 per employee, 14 days free, no card, and what you see on the pricing page is the bill.
Who is it for?
Any UK employer with more than a handful of staff. These are the policies a tribunal looks for when something has gone wrong between people.
All 49 UK policies, £2.50 a month
This policy and 48 others are already in Work-Lynx, alongside GPS clock-in, rotas, timesheets, leave and Employ AI for UK employment law. £2.50 base plus £1 per employee a month. 14 days free, no card, no sales call.
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