Equality & Diversity Policy

RGS Group are a company which recognises the contribution of all our employees, members, and associates. Our aims are to be supportive, fair, just, and free from discrimination. In line with these objectives, we will challenge discrimination based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, and sexual orientation; actively promote equality and diversity; and ensure that the legislation and policy requirements within the nine protected characteristics of equality and diversity are implemented into all our working practices.

Action

Our vision for equality and diversity goes beyond establishing processes to achieve change. As part of our interaction with our employees, members, member institutions and suppliers, we will endeavour to be pro-active and monitor progress made towards meeting our objectives to:

• Encourage diversity and eliminate unfair treatment and discrimination through a full range of policies and procedures.
• Recognise that employees have rights to work in a supportive, safe, and harassment-free environment and have individual and collective responsibility to value and respect each other’s contributions.

Discrimination and Victimisation

Regarding discrimination and victimisation: We respect and uphold the dignity of all our employees, members and associates and value the contribution they make in the workplace. We are committed to providing a working environment that is free from bullying and harassment and where everyone is treated with dignity and respect.

Accessibility

RGS Group’s vision is to create an environment in which all people have equal, dignified and ease of access to our goods, services, and facilities through the full range of RGS Group’s activities. We want to eliminate discrimination and promote equality of opportunity throughout RGS Group. We are committed to RGS group becoming fully accessible and inclusive. RGS Group are actively working to increase and improve the usability and accessibility of our services and resources and in doing so aim to meet our legal, moral, and ethical obligations.

Procurement

In respect of our procurement activities:

• We will endeavour to ensure that the purchase of goods, services and facilities is undertaken in line with our equality and diversity commitments.
• We will endeavour to use suppliers who share our values on equality of opportunity and diversity.
• We will endeavour to establish procedures to ensure that businesses from diverse communities have an equal opportunity of competing for collaborative procurement contracts to supply goods and services to RGS Group.
• We will endeavour to influence our external operations to ensure that they are inclusive and uphold the principles of equality and diversity mindfulness within the operational aspect of these functions.

Employment

Regarding employment:

• We will not discriminate based on age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation in the allocation of employees employed in any post.
• All employees will be considered solely on their merits for career development and promotion with equal opportunities for all.
• We will develop employees in order that they understand the context of and the specific issues influencing equality and diversity.
• All employees of RGS Group are required to comply with the company’s equality aims and to treat colleagues with dignity and respect.
• We support and adhere to family-friendly and flexible working policies.

Compliance

• You must ensure that you read, understand and comply with this policy.
• The prevention, detection and reporting of discrimination and victimisation in any part of our business or supply chains is the responsibility of all those working for us or under our control.
• You must notify your manager OR the compliance manager as soon as possible if you believe or suspect that a conflict with this policy has occurred, or may occur in the future.
• You are encouraged to raise concerns about any issue or suspicion in any parts of our business or supply chains of any supplier tier at the earliest possible stage.

Communication

This policy will be communicated to all members of RGS Group via the Equality and Diversity pages on the RGS Group website.  New employees will be briefed on the content of this policy during the Induction process