Diversity & Inclusion Statement
Individuals with different cultures, perspectives and experiences are at the heart of the way Mouthing Off Magazine operates. We want to recruit, develop, and retain the most talented people, regardless of their background and make best use of their talents. At Mouthing Off Magazine, we are guided by our values in everything we do and recognise that being a diverse and inclusive employer and volunteer scheme helps us fulfil our responsibility to make a difference for students, recent graduates, and young adults.
We seek to develop a work environment where we treat all employees as individuals, fairly and in a consistent way. We work within the spirit and the practice of the Equality Act 2010 by promoting a culture of respect and dignity and actively challenging discrimination, should it ever arise. We will remove unnecessary barriers for our volunteers and freelancers by seeking opportunities through training and development, promotion, and career planning.
We will continue to support our editors, artists, illustrators, and other contributors to demonstrate the principles of diversity and inclusion in their everyday activities, roles, and functions.
Gregory Segal
Founder of Mouthing Off Magazine
Will Hutchison
Chairman of Mouthing Off Magazine
Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Policy
1. Purpose
This policy sets out Mouthing Off Magazine’s approach to equality and diversity. Mouthing Off Magazine is committed to promoting equality and diversity and promoting a culture that actively values difference and recognises that people from different backgrounds and experiences can bring valuable insights to the workplace and enhance the way we work.
Mouthing Off Magazine aims to be an inclusive organisation, committed to providing equal opportunities throughout employment including in the recruitment, training and development of employees, and to pro-actively tackling and eliminating discrimination.
2. Equality and Diversity at Mouthing Off Magazine
At Mouthing Off Magazine, we consider that equality means breaking down barriers, eliminating discrimination and ensuring equal opportunities and access for all groups both in employment, and to goods and services.
We consider diversity to mean celebrating difference and valuing everyone. Each person is an individual with visible and non-visible differences and by respecting this everyone can feel valued for their contributions which is beneficial not only for the individual but for Mouthing Off Magazine too.
We acknowledge that equality and diversity are not inter-changeable but inter-dependent. There can be no equality of opportunity if difference is not valued and harnessed.
3. Where Does This Apply?
The rights and obligations set out in this policy apply equally to all employees and volunteers and also to associated persons such as agency staff, contractors, and others employed under a contract of service.
This policy is also of particular relevance to directors, line managers, and other employees concerned with recruitment, training and promotion procedures and employment decisions which affect others.
4. Mouthing Off Magazine’s Commitment
Every employee and volunteer are entitled to a working environment that promotes dignity, equality, and respect for all. Mouthing Off Magazine will not tolerate any acts of unlawful or unfair discrimination (including harassment) committed against an employee, volunteer, contractor, job applicant, visitor, or customer because of a protected characteristic:
- sex;
- gender reassignment;
- marriage and civil partnership;
- pregnancy and maternity;
- race (including ethnic origin, colour, nationality, and national origin);
- disability;
- sexual orientation;
- religion, belief, political ideology; and
- age.
Discrimination on the basis of work pattern (part-time working, fixed term contract, flexible working) which is unjustifiable will also not be tolerated.
All employees and volunteers will be encouraged to develop their skills and fulfil their potential and to take advantage of training, development, and progression opportunities in Mouthing Off Magazine. Selection for employment, promotion, training, or any other benefit will be on the basis of aptitude and ability.
No form of intimidation, bullying or harassment will be tolerated. Those who believe that they may have suffered discrimination because of any of the above protected characteristics, can and should consider the appropriateness and feasibility of attempted informal resolution by discussion in the first instance with our Chief Executive (Gregory Segal) or another colleague in a relevant position of seniority. You may decide in the alternative to raise the matter through Mouthing Off Magazine’s Harassment and Grievance Policy.
Allegations regarding potential breaches of this policy will be treated in confidence and investigated in accordance with the appropriate procedure. Mouthing Off Magazine will ensure that individuals who make such allegations in good faith will not be victimised or treated less favourably by Mouthing Off Magazine as a result. However, false allegations of a breach of this policy which are found to have been made in bad faith will be dealt with under Mouthing Off Magazine’s Discipline Policy.
A person found to have breached this policy may be subject to disciplinary action under Mouthing Off Magazine’s Policy.
Employees and volunteers may also be personally liable for any acts of discrimination prohibited by this policy that they commit, meaning that they can be sued by the victim.
5. When Does This Policy Apply?
This policy applies to all conduct in the workplace and also to conduct outside of the workplace that is related to your work (e.g., at meetings, social events, and social interactions with colleagues) or which may impact on Mouthing Off Magazine’s reputation (e.g., the expression of views on social media, contrary to the commitments expressed in this policy, that could be linked to Mouthing Off Magazine). We set out below some specific areas of application:
A) Recruitment
Selection for employment at Mouthing Off Magazine will be on the basis of aptitude and ability. Where possible, Mouthing Off Magazine will capture applicants’ diversity demographics as part of its recruitment processes to promote the elimination of unlawful discrimination.
B) Training
Employee’s and Volunteers may also be required to participate in training and development activities from time to time, to encourage the promotion of the principles of this policy.
C) Promotion
All promotion decisions will be made on the basis of merit and will not be influenced by any of the protected characteristics listed above. Promotion opportunities will be monitored to ensure equality of opportunity at all levels. Where appropriate, steps will be taken to identify and remove unnecessary or unjustifiable barriers to promotion.
C) During Employment/Volunteering
The benefits, terms and conditions of employment/volunteering and facilities available to Mouthing Off Magazine employee’s and volunteers will be reviewed on a regular basis to ensure that access is not restricted by unlawful means and to provide appropriate conditions to meet the special needs of disadvantaged or under-represented groups.
Last Updated: 27/05/2021