Diversity and inclusion

The Ogden Trust is committed to equity and inclusion in physics education, with a focus on addressing inequalities resulting from socio-economic status. The principles of equity and inclusion extend across all aspects of our programmes and we want everyone involved to have a great experience. Therefore on all occasions, whether events, on social media and other forums, all involved in Ogden programmes are expected to treat everyone with dignity and respect.

Physics is for everyone regardless of background and those on Ogden programmes are expected to encourage participation from everyone and avoid using stereotypes and pre-conceived notions based on characteristics to deter people from studying physics. They should also avoid propagating negative stereotypes about physics, for example related to its difficulty.

We thank you for your support to make a welcoming community for those teaching or supporting physics education for all ages.

The law

It is unlawful to discriminate directly or indirectly in recruitment or employment because of age, disability, sex, gender reassignment, pregnancy, maternity, race (which includes colour, nationality, caste and ethnic or national origins), sexual orientation, religion or belief, or because someone is married or in a civil partnership. These categories are known as “protected characteristics”.

Discrimination after employment may also be unlawful, e.g. refusing to give a reference for a reason related to one of the protected characteristics.

You should not discriminate against or harass a member of the public or service user in the provision of services or goods. It is unlawful to fail to make reasonable adjustments to overcome barriers to using services caused by disability. The duty to make reasonable adjustments includes the removal, adaptation or alteration of physical features, if the physical features make it impossible or unreasonably difficult for disabled people to make use of services. In addition, service providers have an obligation to think ahead and address any barriers that may impede disabled people from accessing a service.

Types of unlawful discrimination

• Direct discrimination is where a person is treated less favourably than another because of a protected characteristic. In limited circumstances, employers can directly discriminate against an individual for a reason related to any of the protected characteristics where there is an occupational requirement. The occupational requirement must be crucial to the post and a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
• Indirect discrimination is where a provision, criterion or practice is applied that is discriminatory in relation to individuals who have a relevant protected characteristic such that it would be to the detriment of people who share that protected characteristic compared with people who do not, and it cannot be shown to be a proportionate means of achieving a legitimate aim.
• Harassment is where there is unwanted conduct, related to one of the protected characteristics, that has the purpose or effect of violating a person’s dignity, or creating an intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment. It does not matter whether or not this effect was intended by the person responsible for the conduct.
• Associative discrimination is where an individual is directly discriminated against or harassed for association with another individual who has a protected characteristic.
• Perceptive discrimination is where an individual is directly discriminated against or harassed based on a perception that they have a particular protected characteristic when they do not, in fact, have that protected characteristic.
• Victimisation occurs where a person is subjected to a detriment, such as being denied a training opportunity or a promotion because they made or supported a complaint or raised a grievance under the Equality Act 2010, or because they are suspected of doing so. However, a person is not protected from victimisation if they acted maliciously or made or supported an untrue complaint.
• Failure to make reasonable adjustments is where a physical feature or a provision, criterion or practice puts a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage compared with someone who does not have that protected characteristic and the employer has failed to make reasonable adjustments to enable the disabled person to overcome the disadvantage.

Equal opportunities in employment

The Trust will avoid unlawful discrimination in all aspects of employment, including recruitment, promotion, opportunities for training, pay and benefits, discipline and selection for redundancy.

Recruitment

Person and job specifications will be limited to those requirements that are necessary for the effective performance of the job. Candidates for employment or promotion will be assessed objectively against the requirements for the job, taking account of any reasonable adjustments that may be required for candidates with a disability. Disability and personal or home commitments will not form the basis of employment decisions, except where necessary.

Working practices

The Trust will consider any possible indirectly discriminatory effect of its standard working practices, including the number of hours to be worked, the times at which these are to be worked and the place at which work is to be done, when considering requests for variations to these standard working practices and will refuse such requests only if the Trust considers it has good reasons, unrelated to any protected characteristic, for doing so. The Trust will comply with its obligations in relation to statutory requests for contract variations. The Trust will also make reasonable adjustments to its standard working practices to overcome barriers for disabled people.