Diversity, Inclusion And Teamworking

Question 1

What pieces of legislation did the Equality Act 2010 replace?

Answer 1

Equal Pay Act 1970
The Sex Discrimination Act 1975
Race Relations Act 1976
Disability Discrimination Act 1995

Question 2

What are the 4 types of discrimination named under the Equality Act?

Answer 2

1. Direct Discrimination
2. Indirect discrimination
3. Harassment
4. Victimisation

Question 3

What is direct discrimination?

Answer 3

When someone is treated less favourably directly because of -
A protected characteristic they possess
A protected characteristics of someone they are associated with
A protected characteristics that are thought to have, regardless of whether this perception is true or not.

Question 4

What is indirect discrimination?

Answer 4

Less obvious then direct discrimination and can often be unintended. Is where a provision, criterion or practice is applied equally to a group of people but has the effect of putting those who share a protected characteristic at a particular disadvantage when compared to those without, and it cannot be justified. Eg recruitment selection criteria.

Question 5

What are the nine protected characteristics under the Equality Act 2010?

Answer 5

1. Age
2. Disability
3. Gender reassignment
4. Marriage and civil partnership
5. Pregnancy and maternity
6. Race
7. Religion or belief
8. Sex
9. Sexual orientation

Question 6

What is equality?

Answer 6

Equality is about ensuring everybody has an equal opportunity, and is not treated differently or discrimated against because of their individual characteristics.

Question 7

What is diversity?

Answer 7

Diversity is about taking account of the differences between people and groups of people and placing a positive value on those differences.

Question 8

What is inclusion?

Answer 8

Inclusion is about people with different identities feeling and/or being valued, leveraged, and welcome within a given setting (eg workplace, team, industry).

Question 9

What is harassment?

Answer 9

A form of discrimination protected against by the equality act. Harrassment is unwanted conduct related to a protected characteristic or of sexual nature. It has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity or creating an intimidating, degrading, humiliating, or offensive environment for the individual. Eg bullying, nicknames, ‘banter’, exclusion. It can be verbal, written or physical.

Question 10

What is victimisation?

Answer 10

A form of discrimination under the equality act 2010. Victimisation is when an employee suffers what the law terms a ‘detriment’ - something that causes disadvantage, damage, harm, or loss because of
1. Making an allegation of discrimination
2. Supporting a complaint of discrimination
3. Giving evidence relating to a complaint about discrimination
4. Raising a grievance concerning equality and inclusion
5. Anything else in connection with the equality act.

Question 11

What is ‘positive action’ under the Equality Act?

Answer 11

Employers can take steps to help employees or applicants in the following cases
1. If the organisation tion think they are at a disadvantage because of a protected characteristic
2. If they think they are under represented in the organisation, or participation in the organisation is low, because of a protected characteristic
3. If they understand they have specific needs connected to a protected characteristic.

It must be reasonably considered and discriminate against others.

Question 12

What business benefits are there for promoting diversity and inclusion?

Answer 12

• Win the war for talent (skills crisis in the industy)
• Enhance customer relationships (traits in common with end users)
• Boost employee engagement (good welfare means security and loyalty and greater productivity)
• Better decision-making (diversity brings diversity of thought, new ideas to the table, innovation)
• Strengthen company image (no negative headlines)

Question 13

What Key policies should a workplace have in place?

Answer 13

1. Diversity and inclusion policy
2. Anti harrassment and bullying policy
3. Family friendly policies.
4. Flexible working
5. Disciplinary and grievance procedures
6. Transitioning at work policy
7. Recruitment and selection policy

Question 14

What is unconscious bias?

Answer 14

Unconscious bias occurs when people favour others who look like them and or share their values.

Question 15

What does unconscious bias effect?

Answer 15

Recruitment
Promotion
Staff development
Recognition

Question 16

How do we reduce unconscious bias?

Answer 16

1. Awareness: be aware of unconscious bias.
2. Reflect: don’t rush decisions, take your time and consider issues properly.
3. Observe the facts: justify decisions by evidence and record the reasons for decisions
4. Openness: try to work with a wider range of people and get to know them as individuals
5. Positive thinking: focus on the positive behaviour of people ans not negative stereotypes.
6. Policies and procedures: companies should implement policies and procedures which limit the influence of individual characteristics and preferences.

Question 17

How do teams develop and function?

Answer 17

Tuckman’s model explains how teams develop and function using a five stage process:
1. Forming - where team members are still working as individuals rather than a team. In this initial stage, team members get to know eachother and how the team will function.
2. Storming - as them team develops, it will encounter various teething problems and conflicts. These include challenging the team’s objectives, leadership, workload, progress and ways of working.
3. Norming - as the team begins to resolve differences and overcome conflict, it will function more smoothly and operate more collaboratively towards common objectives.
4. Performing - when the team functions effectively with structured processes and commitment from each team member.
5. Mourning - this will be the end of them, perhaps due to a project or instruction being concluded.

Question 18

What makes an effective team?

Answer 18

Common purpose and clear objectives.
Sufficient resources, including budget and personnel (range of skills).
Mutual respect and understanding of each other’s strengths and weaknesses.
Knowledge and expertise being shared openly
Team members being able to speak out openly
Combination of different personality types among team members.

Question 19

What are some barriers to effective teamworking?

Answer 19

Inadequate resources
Misunderstanding of objectives
Poor selection of members
The wrong mix skills and personalities
Poor leadership
Wrong size (typically, teams of between 5-8 most effective)
Inadequate training.

Question 20

What are some typical team roles?

Answer 20

Belbin’s theory of team roles defines nine different overall team roles within three categories - Action orientated, people orientated and cerebral.

Question 21

What are some ways to manage a team?

Answer 21

We use RASCI (responsible, accountable, supports, consulted and informed) matrices to define roles within project teams