Discrimination

6. Allowable Discrimination

Some forms of discrimination are permitted.

6.1 Action can be taken to help groups seriously under-represented in the workforce over the preceding 12 months.

• Members of such groups can be offered more favourable access to training and work experience.
• They can also be positively encouraged to apply for work. But decisions on selection for employment or promotion must not be based on sex, race, age, sexual orientation, religion or philosophical belief.

6.2 Discrimination is permitted where a Genuine Occupational Qualification (GOQ) applies. GOQs are tightly defined:

• Authenticity - as where someone of a particular sex or race is required in a play.
• Personal services - where someone (such as a social worker) of a particular ethnic group might be required to serve members of the same ethnic group.
• Decency or privacy - where the job requires someone of a particular sex or sexual orientation because physical contact is involved, or because it involves residential duties, or duties in a single-sex establishment.

6.3 Discrimination is also permitted where the employee does his or her work wholly outside Great Britain.