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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.


    • Employment law
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Positive action

    Government issues guidance on Equality Act positive action provisions

    by John Eccleston 13 Jan 2011
    by John Eccleston 13 Jan 2011

    The Government has published guidance for employers on how to deal with the Equality Act’s positive action provisions, and has...

    • Age discrimination
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Gender reassignment discrimination

    Equality Act: positive action and changes to discrimination law

    by Personnel Today 10 Jun 2010
    by Personnel Today 10 Jun 2010

    The Equality Act aims to let employers use positive action to boost workforce diversity. Daniel Thomas examines that and other...

    • Employment law
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    Friday Podcast: Positive action and the Equality Act; public sector pay transparency

    by Rob Moss 4 Jun 2010
    by Rob Moss 4 Jun 2010

    HR news and analysis including:

    Positive action in the light of the coalition government and the Equality Act
    Reactions to...

    • Employment law
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Positive action

    Positive action in recruitment opposed by most firms

    by Louisa Peacock 19 Apr 2010
    by Louisa Peacock 19 Apr 2010

    Four out of five firms oppose using positive action in recruitment – a key clause in the Equality Act to...

    • Employment law
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Gender reassignment discrimination

    Equality Act will not increase positive action in recruitment, say industry experts

    by Personnel Today 9 Apr 2010
    by Personnel Today 9 Apr 2010

    Industry experts have poured cold water on government hopes that the new Equality Act will encourage employers to take positive...

    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Positive action
    • Recruitment & retention

    Weekly dilemma: ‘positive action’ in recruitment

    by Personnel Today 8 Mar 2010
    by Personnel Today 8 Mar 2010

    Q I am the HR manager for a large clothing business. We want to open up our recruitment strategy to...

    • CIPD
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • HR practice

    CIPD should take ‘positive action’ to boost racial diversity in HR

    by Mike Berry 4 Mar 2010
    by Mike Berry 4 Mar 2010

    A leading diversity expert has called on the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) to take “positive action” to...

    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Positive action

    Positive action: Accentuate the positive

    by Nic Paton 31 Oct 2008
    by Nic Paton 31 Oct 2008

    Despite plenty of negative publicity, the use of positive action will be extended when the Equality Bill becomes law. Nic Paton looks for the plus points of this controversial issue.

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

    BBC takes positive action to tackle lack of diversity at the top

    by Gareth Vorster 27 Feb 2008
    by Gareth Vorster 27 Feb 2008

    The BBC is to launch its biggest drive to fill more top positions with ethnic minority and disabled staff, Personnel...

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

    Weekly dilemma Positive action

    by Personnel Today 1 May 2007
    by Personnel Today 1 May 2007

    As a public sector organisation, we are in the process of writing our gender equality scheme. We have identified several...

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

    EEF director-general speaks out against calls for positive action

    by Greg Pitcher 16 Jan 2007
    by Greg Pitcher 16 Jan 2007

    Calls for the government to enforce positive action have been branded “populist, false thinking” by a UK business leader.
    In...

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

    Diversity tsar, Trevor Phillips, calls for change in equality law to allow positive action

    by Greg Pitcher 5 Dec 2006
    by Greg Pitcher 5 Dec 2006

    Pressure is mounting on the government to change the law to allow employers to take “special measures” in favouring ethnic...

    • Police
    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Latest News

    Lancashire Police hopes positive action will help it hit recruitment target

    by dan thomas 21 Apr 2006
    by dan thomas 21 Apr 2006

    Lancashire force defends positive action as legitimate bid to improve ethnic representation in ranks.

    • Equality, diversity and inclusion
    • Positive action
    • Letters

    People should understand what positive action means

    by Personnel Today 24 Jan 2006
    by Personnel Today 24 Jan 2006

    Just a thought regarding Naomi Feinstein’s comment in your ‘no whites’ news story (Personnel Today, 10 January). Positive action does...

    • Personnel Today
    • Department for Business and Trade (DBT)
    • Positive action

    DTI urges leading firms to take positive action

    by Personnel Today 14 Oct 2003
    by Personnel Today 14 Oct 2003

    Trade and industry secretary Patricia Hewitt has written to 500 of the UK’s
    top companies to urge them to benchmark...

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