An equality impact assessment (EQIA) is carried out on a policy or plan to ensure it takes account of diversity and equality.
To be successful, EQIA requires a group of staff representatives with a good understanding of the relevant diversity grounds. For example, a HR policy likely to have a significant impact on staff with a disability should be impact-assessed by several employees with disabilities and long-term health conditions, as well as HR staff.
The DEI team help with implementing EQIA by:
- facilitating EQIA discussions
- providing expert participants and advisers
- sourcing relevant equality data to help make EQIA discussions more robust
- linking to expert staff panel members with lived experience of diversity issues
- linking to external agencies with expertise in equality matters
- reviewing outcomes of EQIAs
To take part in the EQIA process as a staff representative, email diversity.hr@hse.ie