Equality Act consultation 'may not change public sector companies' equality profile'

27th August 2010

The consultation opened last week by the government regarding the publication of information from public sector organisations in line with the Equality Act may not change the equality profile of enterprises in the sector.

This is according to strategic director of resources and business transformation at Buckinghamshire County Council Gillian Hibberd, who told Personnel Today that companies are already finding it hard to operate in the face of major budget restrictions.

She noted that improving diversity is the motivation behind change and asking bodies to publish equality data will not make "a sustainable difference to process or practice".

Susie Munro of XpertHR also spoke out about the move, questioning whether it would prove effective at achieving progress in equality.

The Equality Duty, as it has been dubbed, is intended to simplify the requirement of government departments, public bodies and local authorities to implement barrier-free policies and consider race, gender and disability equality in all decisions and practices.

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