ENGAGE PEOPLE – EQUALITY, DIVERSITY & INCLUSION (EDI) POLICY
1. PolicyStatement
Engage People is committed to providing recruitment and employment services in a fair, inclusive, and lawful manner. We believe that equality and diversity are essential to good business practice and to maintaining trust with candidates, clients, and staff.
We are committed to ensuring that no employee, worker, candidate, or client is treated less favourably, directly or indirectly, on the basis of any protected characteristic.
This policy applies to all employees, contractors, temporary workers, and to all recruitment and business activities carried out by Engage People.
2. Legal Framework (Ireland)
This policy operates in accordance with Irish and EU equality and employment legislation, including:
• Employment Equality Acts 1998–2015
• Equal Status Acts 2000–2018
• Irish Human Rights and Equality Commission (IHREC) guidance • Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) procedures
3. ProtectedCharacteristics
We do not discriminate on the grounds of: • Gender
• Gender identity and gender expression • Civil status
• Family status
• Sexual orientation
• Religion or belief
Effective Date: 11/02/2026 Version: 1.0
• Age
• Disability
• Race, colour, nationality, ethnic or national origin • Membership of the Traveller community
4. OurCommitment
Engage People is committed to:
• Treating all individuals with dignity and respect
• Providing a working environment free from discrimination, bullying, harassment, and victimisation
• Making recruitment and employment decisions based on merit, skills, and experience • Promoting equality of opportunity in all aspects of our business
• Reviewing our practices to ensure fairness and compliance
• Taking appropriate disciplinary action where this policy is breached
5. Recruitment and Agency Responsibilities
As a recruitment business, we will:
• Ensure candidates are assessed and presented to clients based solely on role-related criteria
• Not comply with discriminatory instructions from clients
• Challenge and refuse any client requests that would result in unlawful discrimination
• Ensure shortlisting, screening, and candidate submissions are fair and objective
• Take reasonable steps to prevent discrimination in all stages of the recruitment process
6. Use of Technology and AI
Where AI or automated tools are used to support recruitment activities (such as CV parsing or candidate matching), Engage People will:
• Ensure meaningful human oversight of all recruitment decisions
• Regularly monitor tools for potential bias or unfair outcomes
• Not rely solely on automated systems to make hiring or rejection decisions • Take steps to correct any identified discriminatory or unfair impact
7. Reasonable Accommodations and Disability
Engage People is committed to supporting individuals with disabilities and will:
• Make reasonable accommodations for employees and candidates where required
• Consider adjustments during recruitment, interviews, and employment
• Support employees who acquire a disability to remain in employment where reasonably possible
8. Harassment and Third-Party Conduct
We will not tolerate harassment, bullying, or victimisation by:
• Employees
• Contractors
• Clients
• Client employees
• Any third parties
Where third-party harassment occurs (for example, at a client site), Engage People will:
• Take complaints seriously • Investigate appropriately
• Support affected individuals
• Raise issues with clients and take reasonable steps to prevent recurrence
9. Responsibilities
Management is responsible for:
• Implementing and promoting this policy
• Ensuring staff understand their responsibilities • Addressing complaints promptly and fairly
• Maintaining appropriate records
All staff are responsible for:
• Complying with this policy
• Treating others with respect
• Not engaging in discriminatory behaviour • Reporting any concerns or incidents
10. Monitoring and Data Protection
Engage People may monitor equality and diversity information for the purpose of promoting fairness and compliance.
Where equality monitoring data is collected: • Participation will be voluntary
• Data will be anonymised or aggregated where possible
• Special category data will be handled in accordance with GDPR
• Data will only be used for equality monitoring purposes • Appropriate safeguards will be applied
11. Complaints and Grievances
Employees and candidates have the right to raise concerns or complaints relating to discrimination, harassment, or victimisation.
Complaints may be raised under:
• The Company Grievance Procedure
• The Bullying and Harassment Procedure
Engage People will investigate all complaints fairly and without victimisation.
12. Breaches of This Policy
Any breach of this policy may be treated as misconduct and may result in disciplinary action.
13. Review
This policy will be reviewed at least annually, or sooner if required due to changes in law, guidance, or business practices.
Effective Date: 11/02/2026 Version: 1.0