Equal Opportunities Policy

1. Policy Statement
Inclusive Bytes is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion, and eliminating unlawful discrimination.

The aim is for our organisation to be truly representative of all sections of society and our customers, and for each staff member and volunteer to feel respected and able to give their best.

If you have any queries in relation to equal opportunities, please contact our Designated Equal Opportunities Person (see section 4).

2. Purpose of this Policy
This policy’s purpose is to:

Provide equality, fairness and respect for all our staff and volunteers.
Not unlawfully discriminate because of the Equality Act 2010 protected characteristics of:
age
disability
gender reassignment
marriage and civil partnership
pregnancy and maternity
race (including colour, nationality, and ethnic or national origin)
religion or belief
sex
sexual orientation
Oppose and avoid all forms of unlawful discrimination. This includes in:
pay and benefits
terms and conditions of employment
dealing with grievances and discipline
dismissal
redundancy
leave for parents
requests for flexible working
selection for employment, promotion, training or other developmental opportunities
3. Our Commitments
Inclusive Bytes commits to:

Encourage equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
Create a working environment that is free from bullying, harassment, victimisation and unlawful discrimination, promoting dignity and respect for all, and where individual differences and the contributions of all staff are recognised and valued.
Take seriously complaints of bullying, harassment, victimisation and unlawful discrimination by fellow employees, customers, suppliers, visitors, the public and any others in the course of the organisation’s work activities. Such acts will be dealt with as misconduct and appropriate action will be taken.
Make opportunities for training, development and progress available to all staff and volunteers, who will be helped and encouraged to develop their full potential, so their talents and resources can be used fully.
Make decisions concerning staff being based on merit (apart from in any necessary and limited exemptions and exceptions allowed under the Equality Act).
Review employment practices and procedures when necessary to ensure fairness, and to update them (and this policy) to take account of changes in the law.
4. Designated Equal Opportunities Person
The Designated Equal Opportunities Person for Inclusive Bytes is Caroline Ward, who is one of our Directors. You can contact her by email at [email protected], or by phone on 07736 283639 (see also section 7, Contact Details).

The role of the Designated Equal Opportunities Person is to:

oversee the implementation and review of the Equal Opportunities policy and procedures
provide advice and guidance on equality, diversity and inclusion issues to staff, volunteers, and Directors
handle any queries or complaints related to equality, diversity and inclusion in a fair, confidential, and timely manner
liaise with external agencies and stakeholders on equality, diversity and inclusion matters
monitor and report on the organisation’s progress and achievements on equality, diversity and inclusion
5. Procedure for Queries and Complaints
The procedure for handling queries or complaints related to equality, diversity and inclusion is as follows:

If you have a query or a complaint related to equality, diversity and inclusion, you can contact the Designated Equal Opportunities Person by email, phone, or in person. You can also use the Inclusive Bytes Complaints and Grievance Procedure if you prefer.
The Designated Equal Opportunities Person will acknowledge your query or complaint and inform you of the next steps.
They will investigate your query or complaint and gather any relevant information and evidence. They may also consult with other parties involved, such as your colleagues, mentor or customers, if necessary and appropriate.
The Designated Equal Opportunities Person will provide you with a response to your query or complaint and explain the reasons for their decision. They will also inform you of any actions taken or recommendations made to address the issue.
If you are not satisfied with the response or the outcome, you can appeal to the Board of Directors, who will review the situation.
6. Monitoring and Evaluation
Inclusive Bytes will monitor and evaluate the implementation and impact of our policy on a regular basis and use the results to inform our decision-making, planning, and learning, and to make any necessary changes or adjustments to our policy and practice.

We will report on our progress and achievements on equality, diversity and inclusion, both internally and externally, using various channels, such as newsletters, our website, and social media.

We will consult and involve our staff, volunteers, customers, and other stakeholders in the review of our policy, and seek their feedback and suggestions on how to improve our equality, diversity and inclusion performance. We will respect and value the views and experiences of our stakeholders, and acknowledge and address any concerns or complaints they may have.

7. Contact Details
The Designated Equal Opportunities Person for Inclusive Bytes is Caroline Ward.