1. Policy Statement
St Johnstone Football Club endorses the principle of Equality and is committed to ensure that everyone who wishes to be involved with St Johnstone Football Club , regardless of their role, current or potential:
- have a genuine and equal opportunity to participate to the full extent of their own ambitions and abilities, regardless of their age, sex, gender identity, disability, marital or civil partnership status, pregnancy or maternity, religion, race, socioeconomic status or sexual orientation; and
- can be assured of an environment in which their rights and dignity and individual worth are respected and valued, and in particular that they are able to be involved and participate without the threat of discrimination, intimidation, victimisation, bullying, harassment or abuse.
2. Policy Objectives
This Policy has the following objectives:
- To promote fair and equitable treatment for everyone involved with St Johnstone Football Club , in whatever capacity.
- To ensure that no one working for, wishing to work for or working on behalf of St Johnstone Football Club receives less favourable treatment on the grounds set out in 1.
- To adopt a planned approach (strategically and operationally) to eliminating perceived barriers which discriminate against or exclude particular groups.
- To give clear guidance and communication to all individuals who, either administer an area of St Johnstone Football Club or work for St Johnstone Football Club on its commitment to Equality.
- To ensure that the content of policies, procedures, competitions, regulations (where applicable) and assessments provides equal opportunity for all except where specific situations or conditions properly or reasonably prevent this.
- To adopt systems and procedures which ensure all materials prepared, produced or distributed on behalf of St Johnstone Football Club and all relevant public statements made on behalf of St Johnstone Football Club reflect its commitment to equality and inclusion.
3. Scope
3.1 This Policy applies to all current and potential employees (temporary), workers, Directors, Co-optees, consultants, agents, sub-contractors, volunteers, and any other person providing services on behalf of St Johnstone Football Club (“associated persons”).
3.2 The Policy extends to all activities of St Johnstone Football Club.
4. Policy Overview
4.1 St Johnstone Football Club is committed to remove and eliminate any direct or indirect discrimination of any form or kind within St Johnstone Football Club structures, and will under no circumstances condone unlawful discriminatory practices. The organisation takes a zero tolerance approach to discrimination, harassment, victimisation or bullying. Examples of the relevant legislation and the behaviours in question are given in Appendix A.
5. Positive Action
5.1 The principle of Equality goes further than simply complying with legislation. It entails taking positive steps to counteract the effects of barriers – whether real or perceived – that restrict the opportunity for all to participate equally and fully.
5.2 St Johnstone Football Club will therefore seek to institute, support or contribute to appropriate measures or initiatives that enable access St Johnstone Football Club and participation in associated activities by people from any group that is under-represented or has difficulty accessing it.
5.3 St Johnstone Football Club will furthermore seek to apply employment practices in general, and recruitment and selection practices more specifically, which encourage and support people with protected characteristics to gain access to work or training.
6. Reasonable adjustments
6.1 St Johnstone Football Club recognises that it is has a duty to make reasonable adjustments for disabled persons.
6.2 The duty to make reasonable adjustments may include the removal, adaptation or alteration of physical features, if these make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to carry out their role. It may also include making changes to working arrangements.
6.3 St Johnstone Football Club will consider all requests for adjustments and where possible will accommodate any reasonable requests. Where appropriate, advice may be sought from specialist agencies.
7. Implementation
7.1 To achieve these objectives, St Johnstone Football Club is committed to promote and advance equal opportunity through St Johnstone Football Club structures which will cover all areas of our organisation. Roderick Grant, Club Director is ultimately responsible for implementing the Policy.
7.2 The following steps will be taken to publicise this policy and promote Equality within St Johnstone Football Club:
- A copy of this Policy will be published on St Johnstone Football Club
- The Board will take full account of the Policy in arriving at all decisions in relation to activities of St Johnstone Football Club.
- St Johnstone Football Club will collaborate fully with any practical surveys or other initiatives designed to assess the level of participation of different sections of the community in football and will take account of the findings in developing measures to promote and enhance Equality.
- St Johnstone Football Club will provide access to training for all of its Board Members and staff to raise awareness of both collective and individual responsibilities.
8. Responsibilities
8.1 The Board will review all St Johnstone Football Club activities and initiatives against the aims of the policy on an annual basis, and will report on developments and highlights.
8.2 The Board, or where appropriate a designated project leader, will review any measures or initiatives that St Johnstone Football Club may institute or take part in to promote and enhance equal.
9. Disciplinary Process
9.1 St Johnstone Football Club reserves the right to audit compliance with the policy from time to time. If you are an employee, a worker or casual staff and misconduct is discovered as a result of any investigation under this policy the St Johnstone Football Club disciplinary procedures will be used in additional to any appropriate external measures. Disciplinary action kay ultimately lead to dismissal.