CF24 Property Services is committed to encouraging equality, diversity and inclusion for all people among all areas of operation and eliminating unlawful discrimination.

CF24 Property Services is committed to operating in accordance with the 2010 Equality Act in the implementation of this Policy, in addition to any associated legislation and relevant Codes of Practice.

The organisation will monitor its policies and procedures to ensure that this policy and its principles are upheld. Every executive, manager and employee have the responsibility to implement this policy.

All staff have a responsibility not to discriminate or harass other staff, customers, landlords, tenants and contractors. Any behaviour of this manner should be reported to Ahmed Mustafa, Director immediately.

Aims and objectives:

This policy’s purpose is to:

1. Provide equality, fairness and respect for all in our employment, whether temporary, part-time or full-time
2. Not unlawfully discriminate because of the Equality Act 2010 protected characteristics

CF24 Property Services is an equal opportunity employer and is committed to ensuring that the terms and conditions of employment of the employee and potential employee are equitable and non-discriminatory.

All opportunities for and during employment will be awarded to individuals fairly and irrespective of age, disability, gender, gender reassignment, material or civil partnership status, maternity or pregnancy, race including colour, ethnic or national origins or nationality, religion or belief or sexual orientation (“the protected characteristics”).

We aim to create a working environment that is free from discrimination and harassment in any form, in which staff, customers, landlords, tenants and contractors are treated with dignity and respect.

The organisation will seek to promote equal opportunities and prevent discrimination and harassment by communicating this policy; by providing appropriate training and guidelines for those with designated responsibilities and by raising awareness through staff development.

Protected characteristics:

CF24 Property Services is committed to ensuring that everyone is treated fairly, has equal access to services and is not discriminated against, harassed or victimised in relation the following protected characteristics identified under the Equality Act 2010:

• 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

Defining Discrimination

Discrimination is defined in several ways. It may be deliberate or unconscious. It may occur on an individual level (person to person) or on an institutional level.

The Equality Act (2010) expects that all staff and contractors of CF24 Property Services are aware of, and understand the different ways in which discrimination can happen.

Direct Discrimination

Treating an individual less fairly/worse than another individual because of a protected characteristic.

e.g. – Refusing someone housing advice because of their sexual orientation.

Indirect Discrimination

This happens when a service provider or employer sets out a rule, policy or way of doing things which is relevant to all, but has a worse effect on someone with a protected characteristic than on someone without such a characteristic, when this cannot be objectively justified.

e.g. A letting agency has a policy of reminding service users of coming appointments by phoning them. This puts deaf people who cannot use a phone at a disadvantage, since they will not be reminded of the appointment.

Harassment

This happens when an individual behaves in an unpleasant manner which transgresses someone else’s dignity, or is aggressive, degrading, insulting or humiliating towards someone with a protected characteristic. It may be of a sexual nature.

e.g. – A customer in reception happens to hear a staff member making racist remarks. This is an example of harassment since it creates a threatening and degrading atmosphere which humiliates the customer, and affronts his/her dignity.

Victimisation

Treating someone unfavourably because they have taken (or possibly intend to take) steps under the 2010 Equality Act, or is supporting someone who is taking steps.

e.g. – A manager who refuses to consider someone for promotion because that individual has given evidence on behalf of a colleague who made a complaint about unlawful sexual discrimination.

Discrimination by Perception

People are protected against someone (wrongly) perceiving that they have one of the protected characteristics and discriminating against them and treating them less favourably/worse because of this.

Discrimination by Association

People are protected against someone discriminating against them because of their association with someone who has a protected characteristic.  This includes the parent of a disabled child or adult or someone else who is a carer for a disabled person.

Discrimination on the basis of matters arising from a disability.

Treating a disabled individual unfavourably because of something associated with the disability when this cannot be justified.

Working environment

All individuals have a right to be treated with dignity and respect and CF24 Property Services takes reasonable steps to protect staff from discrimination, bullying or harassment and, in the event of a complaint, we will take appropriate action to prevent, as far as possible, a further occurrence.

All staff are encouraged to report any incidents of inappropriate or unacceptable behaviour at work or that occurs during the course of employment, on or off premises, including at work social events (whether organised by the Company or not) or at formal or informal events involving staff, customers or other work-related contacts.

Raising Awareness and Providing Guidance

CF24 Property Services will ensure that our employees, potential employees and customers are aware of this policy by distributing a copy to all employees, and to other workers on their engagement. Job seekers, applicants and customers will be sent a copy of the policy on request.

It is important that all of our staff are fully aware of this policy, and the importance of equality and diversity issues. To this end, all staff will receive a briefing on this policy annually.

This policy does not form part of the employment contract and may be changed at any time. The policy will be reviewed annually and changed accordingly.

Harassment and Bullying

Harassment and discrimination in relation to age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage or civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex, sexual orientation is unlawful, and employees and customers of CF24 Property Services have the right to be treated with dignity and respect. Harassment is not acceptable and CF24 Property Services will neither permit nor tolerate it.

CF24 Property Services as an employer, and employees as individuals may be open to legal challenges under equality and diversity legislation.  As an employer, CF24 Property Services must be able to demonstrate that its employment policies and procedures are fair and effective across the organisation.

Staff Members

Complaints regarding harassment or discrimination by another member of staff will be investigated in accordance with the Workplace Harassment Policy, and, if proven, action will be taken in accordance with the CF24 Property Services’ Disciplinary Policy.

Public

Any complaint by a member of the public will be investigated in accordance with the corporate Complaints Policy.

Contractors

Any complaint regarding harassment will be investigated in accordance with the agreed Code of Conduct and the Workplace Harassment Policy.

Monitoring:

The Company will monitor the effectiveness of this policy to ensure it is achieving its objectives. In order to assess the success of the Equality and Diversity Policy, monitoring systems are essential.

As part of this process, we will monitor employment practices and procedures to ensure fairness, and review and update this policy in accordance with new legislation as well as endeavour to promote equality and diversity in all aspects of work.