What is an equity employer

An equity employer is one who does the following:

provides equal employment opportunities to all people regardless of the equity group to which they belong
actively participates in affirmative action programmes to cater for the employment needs of previously marginalised and excluded equity groups
seeks to mirror the diversity of its workforce with the community and stakeholders its serves
is respectful and sensitive towards differences in cultures and assesses the culture tolerance through independent culture audits, ensuring that the culture of an organisation is consistent with that which is desired.

What is Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)?

Equal Employment Opportunity is concerned about ensuring that:

the workplace is free from all forms of harassment and unlawful discrimination; and,
programs are provided to assist members of EEO groups to overcome past or present disadvantage.

Obligations for an EEO employer

To be an EEO employer means implementing and following workplace rules, policies, practices and behaviours that are non-discriminatory to particular people or groups. It also involves recognising the different needs of employees in equity groups and in turn being fair and flexible to all, as opposed to treating all employees the same.

Discrimination

The law recognizes two kinds of discrimination - direct and indirect, for example:

Direct discrimination

This means treating a person "less favourably than another'" in the same or similar circumstances, on a prohibited ground or for a prohibited reason. The legislation also applies to decisions made because of stereotyped beliefs, opinions or attitudes - for example discrimination on the basis of a belief that people of a certain race are lazy, or that women are not ambitious.

Indirect discrimination

This means a requirement or policy which may appear to be fair, and universal in its application, but which has an unfavourable and disproportionate effect on members of a particular group, and is not a reasonable requirement. Indirect discrimination can occur without any intention on behalf of the discriminator to disadvantage a particular individual or group.

More information on anti-discrimination legislation

Find out more about legislation governing discrimination in Queensland workplaces.