Deploy an organisational equality and diversity policy
Overview
This standard is about the skills and knowledge needed for you to deploy an organisational equality and diversity policy. Food and drink businesses require a number of different policies, setting a clear equality and diversity policy can reduce the need for disciplinary and legal action and can help retention in the workplace. Equality and diversity is a regulated area of business and policies developed in this area must comply with regulated minimum requirements. You must be able to gain support for the equality and diversity policy, establish organisational systems and procedures to ensure communication and deployment across the food business. You must also ensure the equality and diversity policy is embedded within the day to day running of the food and drink business and establish systems that monitor compliance with the policy. You will need to know and understand the regulatory requirements, requirements and responsibilities of the governing body. You must also know and understand the limits of authority and possible risks associated with the operation of a food and drink business. This standard is for you if you work in food and drink operations and/or supply operations and are involved in deploying an organisational equality and diversity policy.
Performance criteria
You must be able to:
Prepare for policy implementation
confirm the key objectives of the policy
plan how you will achieve an equal and diverse working
environment
discuss with colleagues the impact of the deployment plans on
productivity, quality, compliance or other areas of the food
business
gain support for the policy from colleagues and stakeholders
determine the immediate and on-going resources and timescales
available to ensure deployment of the policy
Manage policy
communicate the benefits to the organisation of an equality and
diversity policy
confirm the policy is communicated in ways that meets the needs
of the different audiences within the food and drink business
brief relevant colleagues on their roles and responsibilities for
deployment
identify and make clear implications to the organisation or
individual of not adhering to the equality and diversity policy
liaise with colleagues to embed the policy into current systems
and procedures
provide on-going support, encouragement and information to
manage deployment
implement the policy, selecting and applying a range of
management tools and techniques
Ensure adherence to the policy
encourage feedback from colleagues on the deployment and use
of the equality and diversity policy
handle fears and objections to the policy in an equitable manner
resolve problems and challenges
communicate progress to relevant colleagues at regular intervals
identify any required changes to the policy
establish systems that monitor compliance with regulatory and
organisational requirements of the policy
Knowledge and Understanding
You need to know and understand:
the regulatory requirements of those providing governance to a
food and drink business and the processes and systems required
to provide governance to a food and drink business
the remit of the governing body and the limits of its authority
the regulatory requirements relating to the operation of a business
and those specifically relating to the operation of a food and drink
business
- the different options available for the legal format of a food and
drink business including sole trader, partnership, limited company
or not for profit community interest companies and industrial and
providence societies
- the advantages and disadvantages of each legal format and how
it affects the operation of a food and drink business
- how the legal format can affect the tax position of the food and
drink business
- the social and ethical responsibilities of the governing body of a
food and drink business
- the specific liabilities that lie with the governing body of a food and
drink business including health and safety, insurance, public
liability, fire regulations, copyright and patent and others who this
liability ultimately lies with
- why adherence to compliance with regulations, codes of practice
and organisational requirements is essential to the success of a
food and drink business and why it is important for the governing
body to recognise and understand this
- the importance of informed input into decision making around
strategy and policy development in a food and drink business
- the financial risks associated with the operation of a food and
drink business and the implications to those providing governance
if the food and drink business were to fail