Equality Act 2010: model equal opportunities policies updated for 1 October 2010

The equal opportunities section of the XpertHR model policies and documents, including our general equal opportunities and dignity at work policies, has been reviewed and updated to reflect the coming into force of the main provisions of the Equality Act 2010. 

Main equal opportunities policies

• Equal opportunities policy Use this model policy as part of the company's policy manual or staff handbook in addition to a separate dignity at work policy. 
• Dignity at work policy Use this model policy as part of the company's policy manual or staff handbook in addition to a separate equal opportunities policy. 
• Equal opportunities and dignity at work policy Use this model policy as part of the company's staff handbook or as a stand-alone document if there is no handbook. Smaller employers may wish to use this combined equal opportunities and dignity at work policy. 

Supporting equal opportunities policies

• Diversity policy and procedure Use this model policy to outline both the company's policy on diversity and its strategy for bringing the policy to life. 
• Gender reassignment policy Use this model policy to ensure that transsexual people are treated with respect and not discriminated against. 
• Equal opportunities policy relating to disability Use this model policy to set out the company's commitment to providing equality of opportunity for disabled people. 
• Equal pay policy Use this model policy to set out the company's approach to equal pay. 
• Policy on dealing with harassment complaints Use this model policy to give employees who believe that they have been harassed or bullied at work a route to raise a complaint either informally or formally. 
• Policy on investigating claims of bullying and harassment Use this model policy to set out the procedure that will be used to investigate a complaint or suspicion of bullying or harassment. 
• Policy on religious observance during working hours Use this model policy to explain how employees who observe certain religious practices will be supported in the workplace. 
• HIV and AIDS policy Use this model policy to set out your organisation's policy on dealing with employees with HIV and AIDS. 
• Assistance dogs policy Use this model policy to establish the basis on which employees can bring assistance dogs to your workplace. 

New equal opportunities questionnaires

• Questionnaires for obtaining information on prohibited conduct under the Equality Act 2010 Use this questions form to familiarise yourself with the form that an individual who thinks that he or she has been discriminated against because of a protected characteristic under the Equality Act 2010 will send to the employer to gather further information. There is also an answers form through which the employer can reply. 
• Questionnaires for obtaining information on equal pay under the Equality Act 2010 Use this questions form to familiarise yourself with the form that an individual who thinks that he or she is not being given equal pay or has received less favourable contractual terms under the Equality Act 2010 will send to the employer to gather further information. There is also an answers form through which the employer can reply. 

Also

Equal opportunities policies and documents Browse our other model policies and documents on equal opportunities.