What are the various protected characteristics?

It is against the law to discriminate against someone because of the following protected characteristics: age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation. Everybody is protected under the Equality Act 2010 from these types of discrimination.

How can I ensure my workforce is diverse?

One of the principal ways to ensure that a workforce is diverse is to create an inclusive culture, where everybody is valued equally, and all voices are heard. It is also important to remember that managing diversity and developing a culture of inclusion is a continuous process of improvement, not a one-off initiative. An organisation should also seek to train all employees to understand and engage with inclusion in how they do their jobs and work with colleagues. If you think that managers are unaware of how to promote diversity it may be useful to invest in some diversity training from an external source.

Nicholsons offer a comprehensive outsourced HR service, so if you want to discuss your business needs, get in touch.