Developing People, Organisations and HR Strategy

Registration and Coffee

Introduction and establishing objectives for the day

• Why is diversity important for an organisation?
• What is 'diversity proofing' and how can organisations benefit from it?
• Making sure all your policies comply with current legislation and are reviewed and updated to comply with legal developments

Exploring the practical implications of the law: age, disability, gender reassignment, sexual orientation and religion discrimination

• The Employment Equality (Age) Regulations 2006: issues for employers including justification, benefits, retirement and unfair dismissal

• The impact of changes to the definition of disability and the importance of changing staff attitudes to disability

• Employment Equality (Sexual Orientation) Regulations 2003 and the new law on civil partnerships

• Gender reassignment: examining the law and its practical implications

• Discrimination on grounds of religion – what are the considerations?

• How should organisations diversity proof their policies and procedures? (including those on benefits, recruitment and redundancy)

• Where are employers most vulnerable? Discussing key problem areas to safeguard your organisation

Interactive exercise: opportunity to debate and discuss case studies

Mainstreaming policies and procedures: reviewing existing policies and practices

• How do you mainstream diversity into your business strategy and operation?
• Identifying which key policies need changing
• Putting into place new policies/procedures
• Ensuring that the spirit of your policies is reflected in staff behaviour, attitudes and beliefs
• What procedures need to be put in place in order to ensure best practice and minimal risk?
• Training line management on the implementation of amended policies

How do you assess the impact of your diversity strategy?

• Defining and refining your strategy: clarifying organisational goals
• How do you define impact success?
• Understanding the methods used to measure success
• Is the impact of policies related to your internal and external communication?
• The global perspective: balancing commercial, moral and legal requirements
• Examining the potential complications that arise from streamlining your diversity policies

Creating a diversity checklist

• Establishing a strategy to proof policies and procedures for diversity
• Analysis of strategy to ensure compliance with legislation
• Integration across all aspects of diversity

End of seminar