Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Policy

Scope

Multiverse is committed to providing an inclusive learning and working environment for all apprentices and staff that is not only free from discrimination and unfair treatment, but that actively values and celebrates difference. Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion goes to the heart of the Multiverse mission to create equitable access to economic opportunity, and as such we are committed to creating an environment in which every individual can Grow and Thrive.

Whilst this policy covers the apprentice experience as a learner at Multiverse, apprentices should also refer to the relevant policy at their place of work.

Introduction

We are an equal opportunities employer. We are committed to equality of opportunity and to following practices which are free from unfair and unlawful discrimination. The aim of this policy is to ensure that no apprentice, staff member or applicant to Multiverse receives less favourable treatment on the grounds of age, disability, sex, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, parental, or maternity status, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, caring responsibilities, socio-economic background -  or is disadvantaged by conditions or requirements which cannot be shown to be relevant to performance. It also seeks to ensure that no person is victimised or subjected to any form of discrimination, bullying, or harassment.

All staff and learners are covered by this policy and it applies to all areas of employment including recruitment, selection, training and career development. These areas are monitored and policies and practices are amended if necessary to ensure that no unfair or unlawful discrimination, intentional, unintentional, direct or indirect, overt or latent exists.

The Career Mobility  Lead has particular responsibility for implementing and monitoring the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy and, as part of this process, all personnel policies and procedures are administered with the objective of promoting equality of opportunity and eliminating unfair or unlawful discrimination.

Equality of opportunity, valuing diversity and compliance with the law is to the benefit of all individuals in our Company as it seeks to develop the skills and abilities of its people. While specific responsibility for eliminating discrimination and providing equality of opportunity lies with managers and supervisors, staff at all levels and all apprentices have a responsibility to treat others with dignity and respect. The personal commitment of every staff member and apprentice to this policy and application of its principles are essential to eliminate discrimination and provide equality throughout Multiverse.

Please note: This procedure does not constitute contractual terms and conditions. Multiverse reserves the right to amend any provision of this procedure subsequent to appropriate consultation.

Our commitment as an employer

Multiverse is committed to:

1. creating an equitable environment in which individual differences and the contributions of our staff are recognised and valued, by:
   1. removing barriers and bias from all existing policies and practices which impact employees' experience at Multiverse to support employees with differing backgrounds, needs, and experiences throughout their time at Multiverse.
   2. reviewing our talent attraction, recruitment and selection processes to remove barriers and exclusionary practices.
   3. ensuring equitable career development by removing barriers to progression and committing to supporting employees from under-represented backgrounds to advance in their career.
2. entitling every staff member (employee, worker or self-employed contractor) to a working environment that promotes dignity and respect to all. No form of discrimination (direct or indirect), intimidation, bullying, or harassment will be tolerated.
3. understanding that Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion initiatives  in the workplace are  good management practice and make sound business sense
4. training all staff on the topic of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion so that all staff members understand their responsibility for behaving in an inclusive manner and contributing to a safe environment and culture of belonging.
5. monitoring representation and retention, ultimately seeking to make our workforce fundamentally representative of the populations in the geography in which we operate.

Our commitment as a training provider

Multiverse is committed to:

1. providing services to which all apprentices are entitled regardless of age, disability, sex, gender identity, marriage and civil partnership, pregnancy, parental, or maternity status, race, religion or belief, sexual orientation, offending past, caring responsibilities or socio-economic background.
2. making sure our services are delivered equally and meet the diverse needs of our service users and apprentices by assessing and meeting the diverse needs of our apprentices.
3. full support and implementation of the principles of  this policy by Multiverse senior management.
4. monitoring and reviewing this policy annually.
5. having clear procedures that enable our apprentices to access support and/or to raise a grievance or make a complaint if they feel they have been unfairly treated by either speaking to their Coach or emailing the Apprentice Support Team at wellbeing@multiverse.io.
6. training all staff on the topic of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion so that all staff members understand their responsibility for behaving in an inclusive manner and contributing to a safe and inclusive environment and culture of belonging.
7. treating breaches of our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion policy by our staff as potential misconduct which could lead to disciplinary proceedings and a range of outcomes up to and including dismissal.

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion monitoring

We will collect and closely monitor data on both the diversity of our staff body and apprentice community in addition to monitoring staff and apprentice experience. Through this monitoring, we aim to continually improve our People practices and policies, and our Career Mobility strategy which covers our Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion strategy.

Please see also:

1. Support for Disabled Apprentices Policy
2. Reasonable Adjustments Policy
3. Welfare Policy
4. Data Protection and Confidentiality
5. Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion

Equal opportunity policy statements

Age

We will:

1. ensure that people of all ages are treated with respect and dignity
2. ensure that people of working age are given equal access to our employment, training, development and promotion opportunities and
3. challenge discriminatory assumptions about younger and older people.
4. monitor for any disproportionate impact or bias on the basis of age in recruitment, selection, progression, and retention.

Disability

We will:

1. provide any reasonable adjustments to ensure disabled people have access to our services and employment opportunities
2. challenge discriminatory assumptions about disabled people, for example through our employee networks, and
3. continue to improve accessibility and our adjustments and support processes
4. monitor for any disproportionate impact or bias on the basis of disability in recruitment, selection, progression, and retention.

Race

We will:

1. challenge racism wherever it occurs
2. respond swiftly and sensitively to racists incidents and
3. actively promote race equality at Multiverse, for example through our employee networks.
4. monitor for any disproportionate impact or bias on the basis of race in recruitment, selection, progression, and retention
5. commit to monitoring our race and ethnicity pay gap, in accordance with the law, and taking active steps to achieve pay parity.

Gender

We will:

1. challenge discriminatory assumptions about women and men
2. take positive action to redress the negative effects of discrimination against women and men
3. offer equal access for women and men to representation, services, employment, training and pay and encourage other organisations to do the same and
4. prevent discrimination and provide wellbeing support for transgender  people, including those who have or who are about to undergo gender reassignment.
5. respect all staff and apprentices' pronouns and gender identities
6. commit to monitoring our gender pay gap, in accordance with the law, and taking active steps to achieve gender pay parity
7. monitor for any disproportionate impact or bias on the basis of gender identity or sex in recruitment, selection, progression, and retention.

Sexual orientation

We will:

1. ensure that we take account of the needs of LGBTQ+ (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and other sexualities not listed) staff and apprentices
2. promote positive images of the LGBTQ+ community, for example through our employee networks
3. monitor for any disproportionate impact or bias on the basis of sexual orientation in recruitment, selection, progression, and retention.

Religion or belief

We will:

1. ensure that employees’ religion or beliefs and related observances are respected and accommodated wherever possible and
2. respect people’s beliefs where the expression of those beliefs does not impinge on the legitimate rights of others.
3. monitor for any disproportionate impact or bias on the basis of religion or belief in recruitment, selection, progression, and retention.

Pregnancy or maternity

We will:

1. ensure that people are treated with respect and dignity and that a positive image is promoted regardless of pregnancy, parental, or maternity status
2. challenge discriminatory assumptions about the pregnancy or maternity of our employees and
3. ensure that no individual is disadvantaged and that we take account of the needs of our employees’ pregnancy, parental, or maternity status
4. ensure that all employees can continue to advance in their careers at Multiverse, regardless of pregnancy, parental, or maternity status
5. monitor for any disproportionate impact or bias on the basis of pregnancy, parental, or maternity status in recruitment, selection, progression, and retention.

Marriage or civil partnership

We will:

1. ensure that people are treated with respect and dignity and that a positive image is promoted regardless of marriage or civil partnership;
2. challenge discriminatory assumptions about the marriage or civil partnership of our employees and
3. ensure that no individual is disadvantaged and that we take account the needs of our employees’ marriage or civil partnership
4. monitor for any disproportionate impact or bias on the basis of marriage or civil partnership in recruitment, selection, progression, and retention.
   

Socio-economic background

We will:

1. challenge discriminatory assumptions about socio-economic background
2. take positive action to remove barriers in recruitment, selection, and progression on the basis of socio-economic background such as reviewing role requirements regarding educational qualifications and ensuring hiring managers’ bias training references socio-economic background
3. offer equal access to representation, services, employment, training and pay regardless of socio-economic background and encourage other organisations to do the same and
4. monitor for any disproportionate impact or bias on the basis of socio-economic background in recruitment, selection, progression, and retention.