The price of greatness is responsibility.

- Sir Winston Churchill

Home > About > Policies > Equality and Diversity Policy

Equality and Diversity Policy

Effective from: 01/Jan/2009

This is the web site of One Point Consulting Limited.

Our postal address is
2 Lansdowne Row
Berkeley Square
London
W1J 6HL
United Kingdom

We can be reached via e-mail at contact@one.consultinglimited.com.

or you can reach us by telephone at +44 (0) 7801 495 737

Policy statement

One Point Consulting Limited is committed to becoming an equal opportunity employer and to ensuring that all employees, job applicants, customers and other people with whom we deal are treated fairly and are not subjected to unfair or unlawful discrimination. This policy is not contractual, but aims to set out the way in which One Point Consulting Limited aims to manage equal opportunity. This policy applies to all employees and workers.

Our policy is designed to ensure that current and potential workers are offered the same opportunities regardless of their race, religion or belief, nationality, ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic circumstances, disability or any other characteristic unrelated to the performance of the job. We seek to ensure that no one suffers, either directly or indirectly, as a result of discrimination.

We recognise that an effective equal opportunity policy will help all staff to develop to their full potential, which is clearly in the best interests of both our staff and our business. We aim to ensure that we not only observe the relevant legislation but also do whatever is necessary to provide genuine equality of opportunity.

We expect everyone who works for us to be treated and to treat others with respect. Our aim is to provide a working environment free from harassment, intimidation, or discrimination in any form that may affect the dignity of the individual.

We further recognise the benefits of employing individuals from a range of backgrounds as this creates a workforce where creativity and valuing difference in others thrives. We value the wealth of experience within the community in which we operate and aspire to have a workforce that reflects this.

The legal framework

All employees are expected to abide by the requirements of:

Discrimination may be direct or indirect, and can take different forms, for example:

On all occasions where those in control of employees are required to make judgements between them, for example disciplinary matters, selection for training, promotion, pay increases, awards, etc it is essential that merit, experience, skills and temperament are considered as objectively as possible.

Responsibility for this policy

The overall responsibility for implementing and monitoring the effectiveness of this policy rests with the senior management of One Point Consulting Limited.

Managers and supervisors have a crucial role to play in promoting equality of opportunity in their own areas of responsibility.

All staff, irrespective of their job or seniority, will be given guidance and instruction, through our induction and other training, as to their responsibility and role in promoting equality of opportunity and not discriminating unfairly or harassing colleagues or job applicants, nor encouraging others to do so or tolerating such behaviour. Disciplinary action, including dismissal, may be taken against any employee found guilty of unfair discrimination or harassment.

Recruitment and selection

We aim, through written instruction, appropriate training and supervision, to ensure that all staff who are responsible for recruitment and selection are familiar with this policy and apply it in conjunction with our recruitment policy.

Selection will be conducted on an objective basis and will focus only on the applicants' suitability for the job and their ability to fulfil the job requirements. Our interest is in the skills, abilities, qualifications, aptitude and the potential of individuals to do their jobs.

Person specifications will be reviewed to ensure that criteria are not applied which are discriminatory, either directly or indirectly, and that they do not impose any condition or requirement which cannot be justified by the demands of the post. Questions asked of candidates will relate to information that will help assess their ability to do the job. Questions about marriage plans or family intentions or any other issues which may give rise to suspicions of unlawful discrimination should not be asked. Selection tests will be specifically related to the job and measure an individual's actual, or inherent, ability to do or train for the job.

Job adverts should encourage applications from all types of candidates and should not be stereotyped. All adverts will state: "One Point Consulting Limited is an equal opportunity employer and values diversity". Reference to this policy will also be made on job and person descriptions. When advertising a position which has traditionally been done by one sex, adverts should specify they are open to both sexes.

Training and development

One Point Consulting Limited recognises that equal opportunity responsibilities do not end at selection, and is committed to ensure that wherever possible all staff receive the widest possible range of development opportunities for advancement.

All employees will be encouraged to discuss their career prospects and training needs with their manager. Opportunities for promotion and training will be communicated and made available to all staff on a fair and equal basis.

The provision of training will be reviewed to ensure that provisions are made where necessary to enable part-time workers, shift or remote workers or those returning to work following a break to benefit from training. No age limits apply for entry to training or development schemes which are open to all employees.

Terms and conditions of employment

We will ensure that all of our policies including compensation, benefits and any other relevant issues associated with terms and conditions of employment, are formulated and applied without regard to race, religion or belief, nationality, ethnic origin, age, sex, sexual orientation, marital status, domestic circumstances, disability or any other characteristic unrelated to the performance of the job. These will be reviewed regularly to ensure there is no discrimination. Length of service as a qualifying criterion for benefits will not exceed five years unless clearly justifiable.

Grievances, disputes and disciplinary procedure

Staff who believe they have been discriminated against and have not been able to resolve this informally are advised to use our internal grievance procedure. An employee who brings a complaint of discrimination must not be less favourably treated. Harassment or bullying will not be tolerated, and any individual employee who feels that he/she has been subjected to harassment or bullying should refer to our bullying and harassment policy. When dealing with general disciplinary matters, care is to be taken that members of one group (whether this be sex, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, age, disability or marital status) are not dismissed or disciplined for performance or behaviour which could be overlooked or condoned in other groups.

Positive action

We also recognise that passive policies will not reverse the discrimination experienced by many groups of people. To this end, if certain groups are under-represented within our business we will actively seek to encourage applications from those groups. Any measures taken to encourage applications should not in any way be construed as positive discrimination. The decision as to which applicant is offered a post must be based entirely on the merit of the individual.

Communication of this policy

All job applicants, employees and workers will be made aware of this policy and a copy will be included in the Employee Handbook, given to all employees on joining us. Customers/clients will also be made aware of this policy. In addition, staff will be reminded of the policy through such means as advertisements, job descriptions (which will refer to this), application forms, posters, training courses and memos.

Personnel policies and procedures

Our personnel policies and procedures will be reviewed regularly to improve, amend or adapt current practices to promote equality of opportunity within our business.

Implementation, monitoring and review of this policy

Shashin Shah has overall responsibility for implementing and monitoring this policy, which will be reviewed on a regular basis following its implementation and may be changed from time to time.

Relevant data will be collected to enable this. Personal details provided by employees or job applicants for the purposes of equal opportunity monitoring are confidential and will be kept apart from all other records and not used for any other purpose.

Any queries or comments about this policy should be addressed to Shashin Shah