Citizens Advice Equal Opportunities Policy Statement
Equal Opportunities for All
The CAB Service is committed to equal opportunities for all. Everyone involved in the Service must commit themselves to the CAB's equal opportunities policies. This includes the commitment to taking positive action to achieve the effective implementation of the policies.
The equal opportunities policies aim to ensure that those facing discrimination feel welcome within the CAB service and able to use its services.
Responsibility for Implementation
The implementation of its equal opportunities policies is the responsibility of all those within the CAB service, including Citizens Advice, volunteer and paid bureau staff and management committees. It is recognised, however, that those working at management level have a specific duty to set the standard and to be an example.
The Service is working to integrate the policies into all contracts and conditions of service and into all aspects of its advice service.
Equal Treatment
The CAB service has been committed to justice and quality since its foundation in 1939.
It believes that everyone should have equal access to employment and services and that everyone is entitled to equal treatment.
Opposing Discrimination
The Service recognises that it is part of a society which discriminates unfairly and unjustly against some individuals and groups. Discrimination results in disadvantages and lack of opportunities. Discrimination can be either institutional or individual or both. The CAB Service is resolutely opposed to discrimination and its effects.
It works to eradicate discriminatory policies and practices from its service. It aims for the Service to act equitably and justly. The Service recognises that harassment is a major form of discrimination. It is opposed to all forms of harassment and views it as a serious disciplinary offence.
Positive Action
The CAB Service is committed to positive action to alleviate and remedy the effects of discrimination. It accepts that equal treatment of people is insufficient to achieve equal opportunities and that positive discrimination is also required.
The Service is, therefore, committed to positive discrimination as a very particular form of positive action where it is encouraged by the law, ie training opportunities for women and black people, employment of disabled people.
Specific Groups
The CAB Service has recognised that disabled people, people living with HIV/AIDS, black people and ethnic minorities, Irish people, lesbians and gay men and women experience discrimination.
The Service has adopted equal opportunities policies and practices for these groups. It believes that these policies and practices, while directly aimed at combating discrimination, will also benefit all CAB staff and clients.
Self Organised Groups
As part of its commitment to equal opportunities the CAB Service supports and encourages those who experience discrimination meeting together in self-organised groups. The Service recognises and acknowledges the major role of those who experience discrimination in motivating the whole Service actively to support equal opportunities.
The CAB Service believes that the whole Service benefits from its support for equal opportunity self-organised groups.
Tolerance
The CAB Service is mindful, when implementing its equal opportunities policies, that people who experience discrimination to do not all share the same needs and interests.
Amongst disabled people there are black people, lesbians and gay men, for example. There are both differences within groups who experience discrimination and overlaps between them.
Other Groups
The CAB service recognises that it has not yet developed equal opportunity policies for other groups of people who also experience discrimination. This includes, for example, Jewish people and travelers. There are also characteristics such as class, religion and age that incur discrimination.
The Service is working to develop equal opportunities for all these people.
