11.3 Create and adopt an anti-discrimination policy that protects employees
Content
Description of Best Practices
Implement an effective anti-discrimination policy that prohibits discrimination across all aspects of the employee life cycle.
Provide well-defined procedures that prohibit any distinction or exclusion made on the basis of sex, gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, race, color, religion, political opinion, national or social origin, pregnancy, sexual orientation, marital status, age, genetic information, military status, disability, or any other relevant social characteristic based on the cultural or country context
Listen to and prioritize the voices and opinions of women and other minority groups within the organization to understand what types of discrimination they experience
Educate employees on what types of actions are considered discrimination based on the different social identities of employees in the organization
Identify who is responsible for implementation and indicators for monitoring procedures
Demonstrate a clear commitment to anti-discrimination and inclusive goals with a supportive strategy and action plan for implementation
Implement training programs to raise awareness of unconscious bias, microaggressions, and other discriminatory behavior
Build commitment to implementing the policy among all employees
Ensure accountability for implementation with senior leadership
Challenges of Implementation
Social identities such as sexual orientation might be taboo to discuss in some cultures
Social fissures or tensions between groups based on the cultural or country context might be difficult to talk about or taboo to discuss
Discrimination can be subjective, and employees accused of violating the policy might deny any wrongdoing; However, it is important to remember that the impact on the person who experiences discrimination is more important than the intent of the wrongdoer
Discussions around discrimination might create a tense or uncomfortable work environment initially, especially if topics like this are not discussed regularly in the cultural or country context
There might be resistance or denial among individuals who are not part of a minority group
What Success Looks Like
Employees who experience discrimination feel protected and prioritized within the organization
Employees who are not part of a minority group have an improved understanding of what constitutes discrimination and are actively seeking ways to foster inclusion rather than discrimination
Issues of discrimination are regularly discussed with a proactive attitude and approach to furthering inclusion
Violations of the policy are addressed with appropriate levels of discipline based on the act of discrimination
Resources and Tools
Guide: Integrating Gender into Workplace Policies (USAID)
Guide: Disability Discrimination Act Action Plans: A Guide for Business (Australian Human Rights Commission)
Example: Example Non-Discrimination Policy & Why You Need One (Academy to Innovate HR)
Tool: Racism: It Stops with Me (Australian Human Rights Commission)
Article: 5 Ways Racism is Bad for Business – and What We Can Do About It (WEF)
Article: Building an Anti-Racist Workplace (Times Up Foundation)