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Positive action

Under the Equality Act 2010, positive action means action that is taken to encourage certain groups, for example women or people from a particular racial minority, to take advantage of opportunities for employment if the purpose is to tackle their underrepresentation in a particular field.

Positive action is permissible under the Equality Act 2010. Examples of positive action include stating in the advertisement that applications from women are particularly welcome and using types of media for advertising that are likely to be seen by members of a particular racial or religious group.

Positive action, which is lawful, should be distinguished from positive discrimination, which is unlawful.


    • Police
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    West Yorkshire Police denies positive discrimination accusations

    by Adam McCulloch 10 Apr 2025
    by Adam McCulloch 10 Apr 2025

    West Yorkshire Police have pushed back against claims based on evidence from a whistleblower that it discriminated against white British-born applicants.

    • Police
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    Thames Valley Police ‘positive discrimination’ led to ‘divided workforce’

    by Rob Moss 4 Apr 2025
    by Rob Moss 4 Apr 2025

    Independent review of Thames Valley Police’s DEI practices finds ‘divided workforce’ after three white officers were positively discriminated against.

    • USA
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    Apple urges shareholders to reject diversity rollback proposal

    by Rob Moss 13 Jan 2025
    by Rob Moss 13 Jan 2025

    The board of Apple is urging shareholders to vote against a proposal to rollback on its diversity, equity and inclusion programmes.

    • Age discrimination
    • Case law
    • Associative discrimination

    EHRC opens consultation on updated code of practice

    by Rob Moss 2 Oct 2024
    by Rob Moss 2 Oct 2024

    EHRC launches consultation on code of practice for services, public functions and associations, which has been updated in light of case law.

    • Case law
    • Latest News
    • Discrimination

    White police officers overlooked for promotion win race claim

    by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 13 Aug 2024
    by Kavitha Sivasubramaniam 13 Aug 2024

    Three white police officers who were passed over for promotion in favour of an ethnic minority candidate have won their claim.

    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News
    • Executive pay

    Want more female leaders? Ditch quotas and shake up your culture

    by Dr Nahla Khaddage Bou-Diab 11 Apr 2024
    by Dr Nahla Khaddage Bou-Diab 11 Apr 2024

    The best way of improving diversity within companies is by improving culture, not by imposing quotas, writes Dr Nahla Khaddage Bou-Diab, commenting on problems at Goldman Sachs.

    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News
    • Positive action

    Employers need more support to develop effective EDI strategies

    by Ashleigh Webber 20 Mar 2024
    by Ashleigh Webber 20 Mar 2024

    Employers need help to develop effective EDI strategies that offer value, a report produced for the Government Equalities Office says.

    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News
    • Discrimination

    Kemi Badenoch: ‘confused HR colleagues’ misunderstand Equality Act

    by Jo Faragher 31 Jul 2023
    by Jo Faragher 31 Jul 2023

    Employers' misunderstanding of the Equality Act is risking people's livelihoods, according to the business and trade secretary Kemi Badenoch.

    • Military
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    Leaked emails suggest RAF disadvantaged white male applicants

    by Jo Faragher 31 May 2023
    by Jo Faragher 31 May 2023

    The RAF has been accused of disadvantaging white male applicants in a bid to meet diversity targets.

    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News
    • Ethnicity pay gap

    Government publishes ethnicity pay gap reporting guidance

    by Ashleigh Webber 17 Apr 2023
    by Ashleigh Webber 17 Apr 2023

    The government has published new guidance on ethnicity pay gap reporting and positive action in the workplace. 

    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Positive action
    • Positive discrimination

    What’s the difference between positive action and positive discrimination?

    by Jo Faragher 20 Jan 2023
    by Jo Faragher 20 Jan 2023

    With so many initiatives focusing on equality, diversity and inclusion, we often hear about examples of positive action or positive...

    • Sexual harassment
    • Bullying and harassment
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion

    Allegations and resignations shine unwelcome light on RAF and Red Arrows culture

    by Adam McCulloch 26 Aug 2022
    by Adam McCulloch 26 Aug 2022

    The Red Arrows, of all British institutions, has been enveloped in allegations of bad behaviour that has seen pilots removed from the roster and a major enquiry take place.

    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Gender
    • Manufacturing

    UK in urgent need of female tradespeople finds research

    by Adam McCulloch 17 Jun 2022
    by Adam McCulloch 17 Jun 2022

    New research reveals that only 1% of tradespeople are women in the UK.

    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Gender
    • Latest News

    Women’s promotions at financial services firms lag behind

    by Adam McCulloch 30 May 2022
    by Adam McCulloch 30 May 2022

    Women still make up less than a quarter of senior promotions within financial services businesses, despite some signs of recent progress.

    • Latest News
    • Indirect discrimination
    • Ethnicity pay gap

    Ethnicity pay gap reporting will not be mandatory

    by Adam McCulloch 17 Mar 2022
    by Adam McCulloch 17 Mar 2022

    The government says it will ‘help’ organisations tackle the ethnicity pay gap but will not make it mandatory.

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