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In Australia it is against the law for employers to discriminate. Equal employment opportunity (EEO) is when all employees are treated fairly and equally in all aspects oftheir jobs. All Australians should have equal access to employment opportunities based on their ability to do the job, regardless of their gender, race, skin colour or religious belief.
Equality in the workplace is a human right.
In Australia, national and state laws cover equal employment opportunity and anti-discrimination in the workplace. As an employer, it is imperative to understand rights and responsibilities under human rights and anti-discrimination law.
EEO is important because it sets a foundation for how people should behave with one another in the workplace. It lays out what is and what is not acceptable in regards to behaviour and what can cause stress and be considered intimidating behaviour or bullying. This is applied to both in the workplace and remote working.
What constitutes unlawful workplace discrimination?
Employers should have a specific set of equal employment opportunity policies at their workplace.The policies should clearly state the fair and equal treatment and rights of all workers. It should outline how workers or applicants can complain and how those complaints can be dealt with.
There are 5 main types of discrimination that can occur in the workplace. These are classified by:
• race,
• gender identity,
• sexual orientation,
• mature aged, and
• physical or mental disability.
The employer is responsible for promoting an inclusive culture with zero tolerance of discriminating behaviour. Also, through fostering a professional environment with respect for personal differences.
Promote an inclusive culture of diversity in the workplace by fostering an environment of professionalism and respect for personal differences.
Kineo Courses offers EEO digital training for both employers and employees.
Equal Employment Opportunity for Managers and Supervisors is relevant for all senior personnel in the Australian workplace and provides an understanding of:
• what equal employment opportunity (EEO) means,
• the legislation that applies to EEO,
• behaviour that is considered unlawful discrimination, and defences and exceptions,
• how organisations should manage internal complaints, and
• what happens when an individual makes an external complaint.
Following Australian legislation that support human resource training programs, Equal Employment Opportunity for Employees is rated 4.51 out of 5 stars by learners. The course has been designed to provide workers with an understanding of what behaviour is considered unlawful and not acceptable. The course defines equal opportunity, types of discrimination, protected attributes and how the complaints process is handled.
Learners can expect the learning outcomes to cover:
• What equal employment opportunity (EEO) means,
• The legislation that applies to EEO,
• Behaviour that is considered unlawful discrimination, and defences and exceptions,
• How organisations should manage an internal complaints process, and
• What happens when an individual makes an external complaint.
The experts behind our EEO workplace courses
Kineo Courses works closely with major Australian corporate law firm Thomson Geer on the creation of digital training to support modern workplace challenges. Thomson Geer contributes to many ethics and conduct courses within the Kineo Courses learning library. Specifically, Thomson Geer provides subject matter expertise with EEO at partner level from their Employment Law, Workplace Relations & Safety practice area.
Jonathon Corlett, Partner at Thomson Geer added:
"Given evolving community standards and increasing levels of obligation imposed by legislation, it is important for businesses to keep up to date with developments in relation to EEO."
For further reading SafeWorkSA offers resources on the topic of discrimination, employer and worker responsibilities and where those affected can go for help and support.
Sample the EEO courses in addition to other ethics and conduct courses in our Kineo Courses free trial. The trial provides access to all areas of the library for 14 days and spans 300 popular workplace topics.
Don't take our word for it, see for yourself why over 181,000 learners’ rate Kineo Courses 4.5 out of 5 for satisfaction.
