20/02/2023

NEW EQUALITY COMMISSION GUIDANCE FOR EMPLOYERS: A GUIDE TO EMPLOYMENT EQUALITY MONITORING

The Equality Commission for Northern Ireland has published new Guidance titled  A Guide to Employment Equality Monitoring  for employers on how to conduct employment equality monitoring for the purpose of promoting equality of opportunity in employment.

It outlines what employers should consider when planning to monitor and it offers some practical suggestions, such as sample questions, which will be very welcome by businesses

The Guide covers both mandatory monitoring and also extending the monitoring into other non-mandatory areas:

• Gender Reassignment & Gender Identity questions
• Racial and ethnic group questions
• Age
• Disability questions
• Sexual orientation question
• Marital or civil partnership status question
• Dependants and caring responsibilities

It is divided into five Chapters. Chapter 3 is devoted to looking in details at the data protection issues arising from monitoring.

Chapter 1: Why monitor?

Chapter 2: The equality law context covers
– Mandatory monitoring
– Voluntary Workforce Monitoring
– Monitoring carried out by designated public authorities

Chapter 3: Understanding the data protection laws

Chapter 4: How to monitor
– Plan
– Collect
– Analyse
– Review

Chapter 5: Sample monitoring questionnaire