Equality and Diversity

Equality and Diversity

What do we mean by Equality?

Equality is about ensuring people are not discriminated against unfairly and giving everyone the same opportunities.


What do we mean by Diversity?

Diversity is about respecting and valuing difference whether they are visible or non visible regardless to race, disability, gender, sexual orientation, religion or belief and age.

We need to recognise not all people are the same and that people have different, equally valuable skills, experience and knowledge to offer.


ECFRS is committed to the Equality and Diversity Agenda. We are working towards a time when our staff feel inspired to deliver the best fire and rescue service and work with all communities within Essex to make a safer place to live and work. The Service is striving to achieve a diverse workforce one that is reflective of the Community in which we serve.

Legislation

Current legislation relating to equality and diversity include Civil Partnerships Act 2004, Disability Discrimination Act 1995, Disability Discrimination Amendment Act 2005(public sector), Employment Equality Age Regulation 2006, Employment Equality Religion or belief Regulation 2003, The Employment Equality Sex Discrimination Regulations 2005, Employment Equality Sexual Orientation Regulation 2003, Equal Pay Act 1970, Equality Act 2006, Gender Recognition Act 2004, Race Relations Act 1976, Amendment Act 2000, Race Relations Regulation 2003, Racial and Religious Hatred Act 2006, Sex Discrimination Act 1975. All of these legislations require the individual being discriminated against to take legislative action.

Equality Scheme

Positive action within Public sectors saw the introduction of the Race Equality Scheme, the Disability Equality Scheme and the Gender Equality Scheme, which puts the onus on the organisation to ensure they are not causing any adverse effect to Black Minority Ethnic (BME), Disabled people, men, women and trans gender.
Within ECFRS we have adopted a Single Equality Scheme which sets out specific objectives and action plans that demonstrate how we will achieve Race, Disability and Gender Equality. It also incorporates how we will eliminate unlawful discrimination in relation to Sexual Orientation, Religion or Belief and Age.