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Equality

What is Equality?

Equality is a means of making sure everyone is treated equally regardless of:

Promoting Equality and Diversity Across All Our Services
South Bucks District Council is committed to promoting Equality and Diversity across all its services.  Whilst the equality agenda is supported by legislation, the Council wants to make sure its services and procedures are reflective and supportive of the diverse needs of our local community.

The Race Relations (Amendment) Act 2000 required local authorities to produce a Race Equality scheme, which demonstrates how they plan to meet their statutory obligations with regards to Race Equality.  The Council's scheme has been in operation now for over two years and we have taken this opportunity to reflect on what has been achieved during that period, and to ensure that the Scheme is fulfilling its objectives.  The Scheme is regularly reviewed in line with actions required to ensure the Council are best placed to achieve our commitment to this important area.

If you wish to find out more about South Bucks District Council's employment policies click here.

Race
The Commission for Race Equality is the governing body set up in to oversee the Race Equality Scheme, for full information visit their website www.equalityhumanrights.com.  The Commission for Racial Equality was set up under the 1976 Race Relations Act.  It works for a just and integrated society, where diversity is valued.  They use persuasion and their powers under the law to give everyone an equal chance to live free from all forms of discrimination, prejudice and racism.

The Council has an integrated equality strategy and equality action plans for all our services.  In the Equality Standard for Local Government the Council has reached Level 1 of this wide reaching standard and is now aiming to achieve level 2 through a detailed action plan toward the end of 2006. 

To view South Bucks District Council's Policy on Race Equality click  on the table below.

No.	File name	File size	Estimated download time	File type
1	Race Equality Scheme	516 k	2 min	PDF

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What is Racism?
Definitions of Racism: the prejudice that one race is better than another or the use of discriminatory or abusive behaviour towards members of another race.

Racism causes pain and suffering all over the world.  People might witness racism during a political demonstration for human rights or at a football match.  Unfortunately it happens in many places.

Britain is a multi-cultured society, which ensures that there are many people from many different cultures living together.

Ask yourself and your friends some of the following questions, to start finding out about racism

• Have you ever been racist?
• Do you think you live in a multicultural society?
• Do you understand how racism can affect people?
• How can racism be stopped?

Do you think you are a victim of racial inequality at work? 
Do you feel that an employer is treating you unfairly?  If so, help is at hand as there are laws against discrimination on racial grounds, which all employers must comply. Racial grounds include colour, race, nationality and ethnic/national origin. Discrimination can come from anywhere. It could be a work colleague, team lead or your line manager. Discrimination does not have to be proven as intentional - the fact that it has taken place is enough for you to seek help.  Consult with your Human Resources Unit to find out about their Race Equality policies.

For help from other organisations, below are some

Useful links:

• Citizens Advice Bureau (advice on line) 
• ACAS        
• Audit Commission    
• Criminal Justice Board   
• Dept of Health 

Are You Suffering From Racial Discrimination in your Everyday Environment?
It is a serious criminal offence to commit a crime against a person or property due to hatred of that person's gender, race, religion, colour, ethnicity, disability or sexual orientation.  Harassment does not only harm the victim or damage their property; it can affect the whole family, friends and the wider community.

Often victims do not report the abuse or incidents that they have suffered because the abuser is sometimes an acquaintence or somebody they know and the victim may view the unwanted comments as unintentional, but this can do serious physcological harm as many victims endure the harassment for a long time - sometimes for years, without addressing the issue for fear that they mis-read the situation and that in addressing the issue they may cause offence.

If you are the victim of racial discrimination or harrassment, intentional or unintentional and don't know what to do about it you can find help and advice by clicking here.

Disability Discrimination
Disability can be in the form of either a physical or a mental impairment that affects (substantially and long-term) the individual's ability to carry out normal daily life.  South Bucks District Council has a Disability Equality Scheme  which sets out what we will do to help reduce both inequality for disabled people and frequent discrimination.  As an employer South Bucks will:

• Provide disability related information to staff and to job applicants.
• Ensure disabled staff and applicants have equal chances by provision of all necessary special equipment and support.
• Encourage other employers to do the same.

As a Council we provide hearing loops, disabled access to facilities and support to use our facilities when asked.

Gender Equality
30 years after the introduction of the Sex Discrimination Act, there is still discrimination within the workplace and in every day life. Whilst it may not be direct discrimination people can be discriminated against indirectly because of the way that something is done or services provided.

In April 2007 the Government expanded the Sex Discrimination Act to consider Gender Equality, whilst the Act already outlaws discrimination based on a persons gender, it does not oblige an organisation to promote gender equality. The new Duty requires all public authorities to promote gender equality and eliminate direct and indirect sex discrimination; it will be the authority's legal responsibility to demonstrate that they treat men and women fairly. The duty will affect policymaking and public services as well as employment practices such as recruitment and flexible working.

South Bucks District Council already adheres to an Equal Opportunities Policy that is strict about promoting fairness and equality of opportunity to all that are associated with the Council. As an employer our aim is to ensure that equality runs right through everything we do as an employer and to ensure as best we can that we have a workforce that reflects the people we serve. With the adoption of the new Gender Equality Duty in April 2007, the Council will be more active in considering the needs of service users prior to policy and decision making, by consulting regularly with residents about service provision.

Orientation Discrimination
Discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation in the employment field is unlawful under the Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003. However, the courts do not to prohibit discrimination on the grounds of sexual orientation generally, therefore claims of sexual orientation discrimination will not be upheld by courts anywhere other than in the workplace.

There are special provisions prohibiting discrimination on the grounds of gender reassignment in the employment field with certain exceptions. The Sex Discrimination Act expressly prohibits harassment on the grounds that someone intends to undergo, is undergoing or has undergone gender reassignment.

Age Discrimination
New legislation outlawing age discrimination in the workplace takes effect from 1st October 2006.

Although there is no statutory definition of age discrimination as yet in the UK, age discrimination can be explained as occurring when someone treats a person less favourably because of that person's age, and uses it as a basis for prejudice against and unfair treatment of that person.

Age discrimination in employment can:

• Affect anybody regardless of how old they are.
• Reduce employment prospects for older people, younger people and parents returning to work after a period of full time childcare.
• Favour people in the age group 25 - 35 and
• Prevent the full consideration of abilities, potential and experience of employees.

The Age Discrimination Regulations highlight various practices that employers will have to adhere to in order to comply with the law and avoid claims of discrimination.

South Bucks District Council already works within the framework laid down as a matter of good practice. We offer alternatives to retirement for those that have reached the statutory retirement age, such as:

• The option to have a phased retirement
• Reduced hours - part time working
• Option to work beyond the normal retirement age

Phasing in a retirement by reducing an employee's hours enables the employee to prepare for life outside South Bucks whilst the Council gains an employee with a wealth of knowledge who can share information and act as mentor to their replacement developing their knowledge and expertise.

Contact:
If you need advice, please contact the Customer Services Manager on 01895 837236.