Background

Diversity in the Workplace

The Irish workplace has changed dramatically in the last decade and with the introduction of Equality Legislation it has become essential for organisations to invest in diversity and equality management.

The Employment Equality Acts (1998-2007) and the Equal Status Acts (2000-2004) prohibits discrimination on nine distinct grounds.

• gender
• marital status
• family status
• age
• disability
• race
• sexual orientation
• religious belief
• membership of the Traveller Community

Discrimination is described in the Act as the treatment of a person in a less favourable way than another person is, has been or would be treated on any of the above grounds.

The Irish Equality Legislation requires employers and service providers to create a positive and inclusive work environment by accomodating the increased diversity of their staff and client base.

The challenges which arise from the legislation include:

• Potential for increased litigation from employees and customers
• An intolerant workplace results in decreased profitability, loss of customers, high employee turnover and low staff productivity
• Negative publicity due to insufficient investment in a concerted diversity and equality strategy can damage corporate and brand image

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