What you need to know about being an effective equal opportunities employer
The term “equal opportunity employer” is becoming a more familiar part of everyday business lingo but what does it mean to be an equal opportunity employer?
1. What is equal employment opportunity?
Equal employment opportunity (EEO) is having merit-based policies and freedom from discrimination in the hiring process and in the workplace. EEO law differs globally. EEO is protected by numerous legislations in Australia including the Age and Disability Discrimination Acts.
2. What is an equal opportunity employer?
An EEO employer actively commits to not discriminating in the workplace. Discrimination includes race, colour, religion, gender, national origin, age, disability, or genetic information. Businesses may want to show that they take equality in their organisation seriously and to encourage more diverse job seekers.
3. Benefits of being an equal opportunity employer
The most obvious benefit is diversity in your talent pool but first you must attract a talent pool – a Glassdoor study showed that 76% of employees say working for a diverse company is important to them. Employers will also benefit from reduced legal costs from less formal complaints and recovered time from employees spending time investigating issues.
4. Importance of being an equal opportunity employer
Being an EEO demonstrates a company’s commitment to doing the right thing. It will enhance your reputation and boost employee morale and job satisfaction.
5. What makes a good EEO policy?
A good EEO policy aims to decrease discrimination and harassment in the workforce by promoting equality. The policy should be included in the employee handbook. It should define the steps the business will take to prevent discrimination and the disciplinary process if it does occur.