Equal opportunity act what is it

Charter of Human Rights and Responsibilities. Find help and support If you think you have been discriminated against, sexually harassed, victimised or vilified in Victoria, we can help.

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This tool is a guide and may not be accurate. For more, see: Information in your language. You may be trying to access this site from a secured browser on the server. Please enable scripts and reload this page. Skip to content. Page Content. This policy must detail the steps the organisation will take to comply with the equality legislation and promote equality in the workplace.

Having a formal policy makes it easier for all employees to know what is acceptable and expected of them as individuals and as part of the organisation. When an organisation supports the principle of equal opportunities for all, employees can rest assured that they will not be discriminated against in the workplace.

Employees are more committed to working hard when they know that they have equal opportunities for advancement and there are no barriers to job progression. Also, knowing that they are evaluated solely on their on-the-job performance and measurable merits empowers employees and encourages them to do their best.

What Is Discrimination? What Does Equal Opportunities Mean? This means every individual should have: An equal chance to apply and be selected for posts pre-employment An equal chance to be trained and promoted while employed with the organisation An equal chance to have their employment terminated equally and fairly Denying any employee or prospective employee their right to equal opportunity in the workplace is tantamount to discrimination, which is considered unlawful under the Equality Act Gender reassignment Religious background Discriminating against workers because of any of the nine characteristics is against the law.

What This Means For Employees To comply with the terms of the Equality Act, employers must have policies in place and must adhere to certain practices that aim to prevent accident claims , discrimination and foster equal opportunities within the organisation.

The Disability Discrimination Act prohibits discrimination on the basis of physical, intellectual, psychiatric, sensory, neurological or learning disability, physical disfigurement, disorder, illness or disease that affects thought processes, perception of reality, emotions or judgement, or results in disturbed behaviour, and presence in body of organisms causing or capable of causing disease or illness e.

HIV virus. This law prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, colour, descent or national or ethnic origin and in some circumstances, immigrant status. The Sex Discrimination Act makes it unlawful to discriminate in employment on the basis of sex, marital or relationship status, pregnancy or potential pregnancy, breastfeeding, family responsibilities, sexual orientation, gender identity, and intersex status.

Sexual harassment is also prohibited under this Act. Each state and territory has its own legislation, though they broadly overlap in their application and language this is due, in large part, to the standardising effect of the federal laws described above. To wit, the various state laws prohibit discrimination on the basis of sex, relationship status, pregnancy, parental status, breastfeeding, race, age, impairment, religious belief or religious activity, political belief or activity, trade union activity, lawful sexual activity, gender identity, sexuality, family responsibilities, and association with or in relation to a person who has any of the above attributes.

The relevant state laws include:. Equal employment opportunity EEO is advantageous for both individuals and the organisations for which they work. Individuals benefit from clarity when it comes to the establishment of a baseline for acceptable behaviour. EEO laws help employees feel that they are treated fairly and equally, which, in turn, boosts productivity, performance, and satisfaction.

The chief benefit enjoyed by organisations that implement equal opportunity laws is the creation of a more diverse workforce. Various studies have shown that diverse workplaces increase staff retention and satisfaction, and even boost revenue. For more on this, see our article on the benefits of diversity. However, you may be surprised by how far-reaching the EEO laws are in practice: in addition to promoting outcomes such as gender equality and cultural diversity, they cover topics such as jewellery in the workplace, dress codes , tattoos , gender identity , religious holidays , and more.