Diversity, equality and inclusion

Updates

International Women’s Day

Wednesday 8 March is International Women's Day (IWD). This year’s theme is embracing equity.

Equity in the workplace is about recognising that people need different types of support to progress in their careers. Women make up 78% of our workforce. Many HR supports are available to assist you, depending on your circumstances. Email diversity.HR@hse.ie for more information on equity in the workplace and the supports available to all staff.

Staff speak about HSE supports and opportunities (video)

Background

The HSE is an equal opportunities employer.

As an equal opportunities employer, we are committed to treating our employees equally in relation to:

  • age
  • civil status
  • disability
  • ethnicity and race
  • family status
  • gender
  • membership of the Traveller community
  • religion
  • sexual orientation

We treat our employees equally in:

  • recruitment
  • pay
  • conditions
  • training
  • work experience
  • career progression

Our Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy sets out a number of priorities to enhance the way the HSE recruits, plans and develops its workforce. This applies to potential and existing employees regardless of their diversity background. The DEI Strategy runs to the end of 2024 and supports the overall Health Services People Strategy.

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy (PDF, 517KB, 9 pages)

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy (Word, 535KB, 9 pages)

Diversity Equality and Inclusion (DEI) team

We help in creating a culture where employees are valued and supported, and work in an environment free from discrimination.

We help the organisation to improve the recruitment, support and retention of employees across all diversity grounds, including disability. This is done through awareness-raising and developing the HSE as an employer of choice for diverse groups.

Support with diversity, equality and inclusion enquiries

We provide advice and support to managers and staff on diversity, equality and inclusion enquiries.

This includes:

  • queries about reasonable accommodations from staff with disabilities
  • information requests relating to equality legislation
  • enquiries relating to HSE DEI initiatives, policies and plans
  • enquiries relating to DEI metrics and data

Email: diversity.HR@hse.ie

Training

Get training on diversity, equality and inclusion in the workplace on the Diversity, Equality and Inclusion hub on HSeLanD

Training includes:

  • Equality and Diversity Foundation Programme
  • National Disability Authority Disability Awareness Training-Revision 2
  • Overcoming Unconscious Bias in the Workplace
  • LGBTQIA+ Awareness and Inclusion: the basics
  • LGBTQIA+ Awareness Training - virtual workshop
  • Recruitment interviewer skills
  • Dignity at Work policy
  • Equality and Human Rights in the Public Service

Employee networks

Employee networks, also known as Employee Resources Groups (ERGs), help create inclusive environments and build a sense of community.

Benefits of employee networks include:

  • support, visibility and a voice for staff
  • opportunity for staff to contribute personal stories and experience into HR policy and practice
  • assist with raising awareness on DEI issues to the wider workforce

The HSE currently has three employee network groups:

Email diversity.HR@hse.ie for more information or to join a network.

Conducting equality impact assessments

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

Related documents

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy (PDF, 517KB, 9 pages)

Diversity, Equality and Inclusion (DEI) Strategy (Word, 535KB, 9 pages)

Contact DEI team

Email diversity.HR@hse.ie

Back to Procedures and guidelines