Equal opportunity policy 'key' for employers
Employers need to make sure they have an equal opportunities policy in place to avoid discrimination, one expert has suggested.
According to research by law firm Peninsula, around eight in ten female employees feel that there is favouritism towards men in workplace roles such as sales jobs.
But according to managing director of the firm, Peter Done, company bosses, whether at work or in sales recruitment, should be the first line of defence against discrimination.
Speaking in Recruitment Consultant magazine, he advised: "If female workers feel that they are being discriminated they should approach their employer and explain how they feel.
"Tribunal cases for sexual discrimination see record awards being given and it’s not just the financial penalties imposed but the reputation of both the employer and the firm in hand."
Peninsula research also found that just under 74 per cent of women polled had personally experienced discrimination at work.
Meanwhile, a 58-year-old man has recently been awarded £70,000 in damages for age discrimination after he was turned down for two sales jobs positions in 2006.
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Filed: 06-06-2008
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