Equality Champion: HR Specialist Workshops  

The Equality Champion Programme has been designed to assist employers of all sizes within the voluntary sector. The aim is to assist them to identify the appropriate type of training for employees with specific responsibilities relating to the promotion of equality.

The certificated programme forms an important element of the Reasonable Steps Planning approach to promoting equality of opportunity through the effective implementation of an Employment Equality Plan.

Level A modules focus on key job roles such as The Selection Panel and The Line Manager. Level B involves a series of pratical workshops aimed at HR specialists seeking to review their organisation´s current policies against best practice.

The Level B - HR Specialist programme will cover all major employment policy areas, however each module is standalone and they can therefore be taken in any order. An employer seeking to review one specific policy area may decide to only attend the relevant workshop, however participants who complete all five modules will be awarded a certificate acknowledging CPD hours completed.

The five workshops cover:

• Key Equality Policies
• Recruitment & Selection
• Work-life Balance
• Attendance Management
• Terms & Conditions

Additional details and learning objectives for each module are included below.

Policy Development Support: The aim of each module is to assist employers to review specific policies against the Commission´s best practice audit tool. Participants will also be provided with additional follow-up support as required.  

If you would be interested in signing-up for the programme please contact Brian Drury via bdrury@equalityni.org.

Workshop 1 - Key Equality Policies

Module Aim: To assist employers seeking to benchmark and review their main equality practices against best practice equality indicators.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the seminar participants should have had an opportunity to have considered:

1. The key elements of the anti-discrimination legislation which outline the requirement to promote equality of opportunity.
2. Equality indicators for:
   1. Promoting equality of opportunity
   2. Preventing harassment
   3. Equality Monitoring
   4. Affirmative or Positive Action outreach
   5. Promoting equality in volunteer roles
3. Case law and examples highlighting factors relevant to specific equality grounds.
4. An implementation plan outlining the key steps to take when developing/reviewing relevant employment policies.
5. Signposting to additional guidance and supporting materials.

Potential Policy Outcomes:

• Equality / Diversity Policy / Employment Equality Plan
• Harassment & Bullying / Dignity at Work Policy
• Equality Monitoring Policy

Workshop 2 - Recruitment & Selection

Module Aim: To assist employers seeking to benchmark and review their recruitment practices against best practice equality indicators.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the seminar participants should have had an opportunity to have considered:

1. The key elements of the anti-discrimination legislation relating to recruitment and selection methods.
2. Recruitment and selection equality indicators outlined in Chapter 10 of the Unified Guide to Promoting Equality of Opportunity in Employment, covering areas such as job design, advertising, selection testing and pre-employment checking.
3. Case law and examples highlighting factors relevant to specific equality grounds.
4. An implementation plan outlining the key steps to take when developing/reviewing relevant employment policies.
5. Signposting to additional guidance and supporting materials.

Potential Policy & Practice Outcome Areas:

• Recruitment and Selection
• Transfer and Internal Promotions
• Third Party Recruitment

Workshop 3 - Work-life Balance

Module Aims: To assist employers seeking to benchmark and review their main work-life balance related practices against best practice equality indicators.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the seminar participants should have had an opportunity to have considered:

1. The key elements of the anti-discrimination legislation relating to work-life balance.
2. The best practice equality indicators for:
   1. Pregnancy, Maternity and Adoption
   2. Flexible Working arrangements
   3. Disability at work
3. Case law and examples highlighting factors relevant to specific equality grounds.
4. An implementation plan outlining the key steps to take when developing/reviewing relevant employment policies.
5. Signposting to additional guidance and supporting materials.

Potential Policy & Practice Outcome Areas:

• Flexible Working
• Pregnancy & Maternity / Paternity / Adoption / Carers
• Reasonable Adjustments under the DDA   

Workshop 4 - Attendance Management

Module Aim: To assist employers seeking to benchmark and review their main attendance management policies against best practice equality indicators.

Learning Objectives: By the end of the seminar participants should have had an opportunity to have considered:

1. The key elements of the anti-discrimination legislation relating to th area of attendance management, (including annual leave, emergency leave, authorised absences, unauthorised absences and sick absence).
2. Absence management equality indicators outlined in Chapter 17 of the Unified Guide to Promoting Equality of Opportunity in Employment.
3. Case law and examples highlighting factors relevant to specific equality grounds.
4. An implementation plan outlining the key steps to take when developing/reviewing relevant employment policies.
5. Signposting to additional guidance and supporting materials.

Potential Policy & Practice Outcome Areas:

• Absence management / sick leave
• Hours and attendance / annual leave
• Special leave

Workshop 5 - Terms & Conditions

Module Aim: To assist employers seeking to benchmark and review their main pay and working conditions and performance management practices against best practice equality indicators.

Learning Aims: By the end of the seminar participants should have had an opportunity to have considered:

1. The key elements of the anti-discrimination legislation relating to terms and conditions and performance management.
2. Best practice equality indicators for:
   1. Pay and benefits
   2. Grievance and Disciplinary Procedures
   3. Training and development
   4. Termination of employment (including retirement, redundancy and capability)
3. Case law and examples highlighting factors relevant to specific equality grounds.
4. An implementation plan outlining the key steps to take when developing/reviewing relevant employment policies.
5. Signposting to additional guidance and supporting materials.

Potential Policy & Practice Outcome Areas:

• Pay and benefits / Pensions / Training and Development
• Termination: Retirement / Dismissal / Redundancy
• Performance Management / Discipline and Grievance

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