Introduction

Seed Renewables Ltd recognises and values people’s differences and will assist them to use their talents to reach their full potential.

The organisation will do all it can to ensure it recruits, trains and promotes people based on qualifications, experience and abilities for all roles within the organisation.

This policy is designed to ensure that Seed Renewables Ltd complies with its obligations under equality legislation and demonstrates our commitment to treating people equally and fairly.

Seed Renewables Ltd is unreservedly opposed to any form of discrimination on the grounds of age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, gender and sexual orientation (defined as Protected Characteristics).

Using fair and objective employment practices, the organisation aims to ensure that:

  • All employees and potential employees are treated fairly and with respect at all stages of their employment.
  • All employees have the right to be free from harassment and bullying of any description, or any other form of unwanted behaviour. Such behaviour may come from other employees or by people (third parties) who are not employees of Seed Renewables Ltd such as customers or clients.
  • All employees have an equal chance to contribute and to achieve their potential, irrespective of any defining feature that may give rise to unfair discrimination.
  • All employees have the right to be free from discrimination because they associate with another person who possesses a Protected Characteristic or because others perceive that they have a particular Protected Characteristic, even if they do not.

The policy applies to:

  • Job applicants

  • Employees

  • Agency temps

  • Students on work experience or placements

  • Service Users

The policy applies to all stages of employment including recruitment and selection, promotion and training. Wherever possible, Seed Renewables Ltd will prohibit the following forms of discrimination:

  • Direct discrimination

  • Indirect discrimination

  • Discrimination arising from disability

  • Associative Discrimination

  • Perceptive Discrimination

  • Third Party Harassment

As an organisation, we value the variety of different views, outlooks and approaches that a diverse workforce bring. This assists us to provide improved services and increase our understanding of our service users/clients.

We will do all we can to ensure no one will receive less favourable treatment or is to be disadvantaged by requirements or conditions, which cannot be shown to be justifiable.

Employees of Seed Renewables Ltd have a duty to act within this policy, ensure it is followed and to draw attention to any suspected discriminatory acts or practices.

Responsibility for promoting awareness of this policy and monitoring that it is being followed rests with the CEO / Managing Director.

Breaches of this policy by employees will be considered gross misconduct and may be dealt with under the disciplinary procedures.

In carrying out the policy, the organisation will carry out the following actions:

  • Use of selection criteria that does not unlawfully discriminate in recruitment and promotion procedures
  • Requiring entry to employment or progression within it to be based on merit
  • Not discriminating in opportunities for recruitment, training, promotion or transfer of employees
  • Ensuring that every individual is assessed according to his or her personal capability to carry out a given job/role
  • Ensure that all employees are given equal treatment with regard to terms and conditions of employment, provided they do the same or broadly similar work, or work of equal value
  • Ensure equal opportunities and non-discrimination in the operation of grievance and disciplinary procedures
  • Ensure that all relevant requirements of the Equality Act in relation to disability are met and adhered to. This will include making reasonable adjustments to ensure access to employment or volunteering tasks and opportunities.
  • Ensure that any amendments to any legislation relating to discrimination are met and adhered to.

All staff, will be involved in creating an equality environment and one that values diversity.

Communication of the policy to job applicants and employees through the job specification and initial induction process. It will be periodically briefed to employees.

Employees who feel that they have suffered any form of discrimination should raise the issue through the following means:

  • Their Line manager in the first instance
  • A Senior Manager if it is felt inappropriate to discuss with their line manager
  • Raised through the Grievance Procedure.

Employees should also use this approach if they feel that they been the subject of harassment from someone who is not an employee of Seed Renewables Ltd. Seed Renewables Ltd will not tolerate any harassment from third parties towards its employees and will take appropriate action to prevent it happening again.

If an employee observes behaviour that they find offensive in relation to age, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, disability, gender reassignment, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation, even if it is not directed at them, they should also use this procedure.

This policy will be reviewed with the other company policies by Senior Managers and authorised by the CEO / Managing Director to ensure that it remains up to date and reflects the needs and practices of the organisation.

The policy may also be reviewed if legislation changes or if monitoring information suggests that policy or practices should be altered.