EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY

• The Regional Studies Association is committed to equal opportunities in all aspects of its work, in relation to its members and to its employees.
• The Association is incorporated and is a registered charity established to meet its aims and objects. As an employer the Association recognises its statutory obligations. The procedures of the Association are governed by its rules.
• The Equal Opportunities policy relates to gender, ethnic origin, religious persuasion, age, sexual preference and disability.
• Staff employed by the Association, and its Honorary Officers, will always treat all members, all other employees and all members of the public with equal courtesy and consideration.
• All elections within the Association require advertisement, nomination and vote.
• All employees of the Association will be appointed using open methods and will be treated on a fair basis, bearing in mind their skills, qualifications and contribution to the Association.
• All employees of the Association will have clearly documented job descriptions setting out their roles and responsibilities as an employee.
• The Association will not tolerate harassment in any form.
• The Association will ensure that the content of any of its advertisements, publications, informational or other materials will be free of statements which imply inequality of opportunity and will conform inter alia with the Advertising Standards Authority guidelines.
• Members of the Association are free to contact the Honorary Secretary should they consider the Association or any of its employees to have breached the terms or the spirit of the Equal Opportunities policy.
• The Board of the Association will review the Equal Opportunities Policy and its operation from time to time.

This Equal Opportunities Policy was approved at an Executive Committee Meeting held in March 1997. This Policy was reviewed at the Board meeting on 23rd January 2004.