At Fresh People, we are committed to promoting fairness, equality, and respect in every aspect of our recruitment process. As a recruitment agency specializing in permanent placements within the fresh produce and food manufacturing sectors, we recognize our responsibility to ensure that candidates, clients, and employees are treated fairly and without discrimination.
This Anti-Discrimination Policy outlines our commitment to preventing discrimination and promoting equal opportunities in all our recruitment activities. It also sets clear expectations for our clients to ensure that they uphold the same standards when hiring candidates through Fresh People.

1. Policy Objectives
The objectives of this policy are to:
– Prevent discrimination, harassment, or victimization of candidates, clients, or employees.
– Promote equal opportunities throughout the recruitment and employment processes.
– Ensure that Fresh People and the clients we serve maintain a diverse, inclusive, and respectful work environment.
– Establish clear procedures for reporting and addressing instances of discrimination.

2. Scope of the Policy This policy applies to:
– All aspects of Fresh People’s recruitment activities, including job advertising, interviewing, shortlisting, and placement of candidates.
– The clients we work with and the workplaces where we place candidates.
– The treatment of Fresh People employees, candidates, clients, and any other stakeholders involved in our recruitment process.

3. Commitment to Equal Opportunity
Fresh People is committed to providing equal opportunities for all, regardless of:
– Race, ethnicity, or nationality
– Gender, gender identity, or gender expression
– Sexual orientation
– Age
– Disability
– Religion or belief
– Marital or civil partnership status
– Pregnancy or maternity
– Socioeconomic background

We ensure that all candidates are assessed based on their qualifications, skills, experience, and suitability for the role, with no bias or discrimination.

4. No Discrimination in Recruitment Practices
At Fresh People, we actively work to prevent discrimination at every stage of the recruitment process. This includes:
– Job Advertisements: Ensuring that all job postings and descriptions are free from discriminatory language and encourage applications from diverse backgrounds.
– Candidate Selection: Using objective and fair criteria to evaluate candidates, ensuring that decisions are based on merit, skills, and qualifications.
– Interviews: Conducting interviews in a non-discriminatory manner, asking relevant questions, and ensuring that all candidates are given equal opportunities to demonstrate their abilities.

We work closely with our clients to ensure that they uphold these principles during their own interview and hiring processes.

5. Client Responsibilities
Fresh People expects all clients to:
– Treat candidates fairly and without discrimination during the hiring process and in the workplace.
– Comply with all relevant anti-discrimination laws and regulations, including the Equality Act 2010 in the UK and any other applicable legislation.
– Implement and maintain their own equal opportunities policies to ensure a non-discriminatory and inclusive workplace.

Fresh People reserves the right to terminate business relationships with clients who engage in discriminatory practices or fail to address discriminatory behaviour in their organisations.

6. *Harassment and Victimization
Harassment and victimization are forms of discrimination and are strictly prohibited by Fresh People. We define harassment as any unwanted behaviour that violates a person’s dignity or creates an intimidating, hostile, degrading, or offensive environment.
Examples include:
– Verbal or physical abuse related to any protected characteristic.
– Bullying, intimidation, or inappropriate comments about a person’s background, appearance, or identity.

We expect our clients to have policies in place to prevent harassment and to act swiftly if any issues arise. We will not tolerate any form of harassment or victimization within our own organization or in any workplace where we place candidates.

7. Reasonable Adjustments and Accommodations

Fresh People is committed to ensuring that individuals with disabilities or specific needs are not disadvantaged during the recruitment process or in their employment. We will:
– Make reasonable adjustments to accommodate candidates with disabilities during interviews and assessments.

– Work with clients to ensure that they provide reasonable adjustments in the workplace, such as accessible facilities, modified working arrangements, or adaptive equipment, to support candidates with disabilities or specific needs.

We expect our clients to meet their legal obligations to provide reasonable accommodations in line with relevant laws, such as the Equality Act 2010 in the UK.

8. Reporting Discrimination
Fresh People encourages anyone who experiences or witnesses discrimination to report it through our grievance procedures. Grievances can be raised by:
– Candidates: If a candidate believes they have been treated unfairly or discriminated against during the recruitment process or within a client’s workplace, they can report their concerns to Fresh People.
– Clients: If a client witnesses or experiences discriminatory behaviour by Fresh People staff or candidates, they can report the incident to our management team.
– Employees: Fresh People employees who experience discrimination or harassment can report the issue through internal channels without fear of retaliation.

All complaints will be handled in line with our Grievance and Remediation Policy, ensuring confidentiality and a fair investigation process.

9. Investigation and Remediation
When a discrimination complaint is received, Fresh People will:
– Acknowledge the complaint within two business days.
– Investigate the issue thoroughly, ensuring that all parties involved have the opportunity to present their views and evidence.
– Resolve the complaint by taking appropriate action. This may involve mediation, corrective action, or, in severe cases, terminating business relationships with clients or employees who engage in discriminatory practices.

Fresh People will work closely with clients to ensure that any necessary corrective actions are taken in their workplaces to resolve the issue and prevent future occurrences.

10. Training and Awareness
Fresh People is committed to fostering an inclusive and respectful culture within our own organization and with the clients we serve. To achieve this, we:
– Provide regular training to our staff on anti-discrimination laws, equal opportunities, and best practices for promoting diversity and inclusion in recruitment.
– Share resources and guidance with our clients to help them create inclusive work environments and adopt fair hiring practices.

11. Continuous Improvement
Fresh People is dedicated to continually improving our policies and practices to ensure that we remain at the forefront of ethical recruitment. We will:
– Regularly review this Anti-Discrimination Policy to ensure it is up to date with current legislation and best practices.

– Seek feedback from candidates, clients, and employees on our performance in promoting equal opportunities and preventing discrimination.
– Use data and insights from reported grievances to refine our processes and enhance our commitment to diversity and inclusion.

Fresh People is committed to ensuring that discrimination has no place in the recruitment process or in the workplaces where we place candidates. We expect our clients to share this commitment and to work with us to promote equality, diversity, and inclusion in all employment practices.
By adhering to this Anti-Discrimination Policy, Fresh People and our clients can ensure that everyone has access to fair and equal opportunities, regardless of their background or personal characteristics.
For any questions or to report concerns related to discrimination, please contact us at enquiries@freshpeople.co.uk
This policy reflects Fresh People’s dedication to providing an inclusive and discrimination-free recruitment service, ensuring that all candidates and clients are treated with fairness, respect, and equality.