Equalities diversity and inclusion in BHP

Equality analysis frequently asked questions (FAQ's)

Q: What is the purpose of carrying out an Equality Analysis (EA)?

A: An EA provides a systematic way to ensure legal obligations are met.  They are also a practical way of examining new and existing policies and practices to determine what effect they may have on equality for those affected by the outcomes.

Q: How will an EA help improve my service?

A: An EA is an opportunity to promote inclusive, and fair, service delivery and employment practices.  They will help organisations deliver services that are accessible and which meet the varied needs of their staff and service users.  In its simplest form the EA process can be seen as a foundation tool for measuring the effect of policy and practice on people and should encourage greater openness about policy making.

Q: What are the benefits of an EA?

A: The EA process will help to avoid claims of unlawful discrimination, as it provides a framework that ensures BHP meets its legislative duties with regard to policy development and implementation.  The process helps organisations to anticipate problems and make informed decisions

Q: Do I need to impact assess old policies as well as new ones?

A: Yes.  As well as the requirement to impact assess new functions and policies, BHP contractors and agents will also have existing arrangements which also need to be assessed.  All current policies, processes and functions must be continuously monitored and reviewed for relevance and checked for their impact.The difference between assessing existing policies and assessing new policies, is that existing information about the implementation of a present policy should indicate and adverse impact.

Q: How do I know if an EA needs to be carried out?

A: The first stage of an EA should include asking:

• What is the purpose of the proposed function or policy?
• Who is affected by it?
• Who is the policy intended to benefit and how?
• Is there any evidence that groups have different needs, experiences and priorities in relation to this particular proposal?
• Is there any evidence that the proposal could lead to any qualitative or quantitative differences in impact on certain groups?
• Does the proposal provide an opportunity to promote equality of opportunity and good relations more effectively?
• Is any additional information needed to help reach an informed decision?