A 1984 survey revealed that 60 per cent of organisations in the UK operate equal opportunities policies. What is the significance of this in practice? Statistics continue to show inequalities between various categories of workers – men and women, black and white, able‐bodied and disabled....

Describes case studies of three organisations, exploring the role of organisational culture as a framework for the inclusion and exclusion of actual and potential organisational members. To explore common understandings of culture, methods included: repertory grid, group discussions, documentary...

Recent studies have found that initiatives relying on the participation and development of employees, such as TQM, can struggle if different kinds of employees are not involved equally. For instance, part‐time workers, administrative or shift staff often receive less training and communication...

The article presents a discussion of issues of human resource diversity and diversity climates in organisations and develops a conceptual model of a “positive climate for diversity” (PCFD). This refers to the degree to which there is an organisational climate in which human resource...

Argues that the discourse of “managing diversity”, emerging from the US management literature, cannot be simply mapped on to organisations in other cultural contexts. It uses the example of Aotearoa/New Zealand to show that a “diversity” based on the demographics and dominant cultural...

Reports research findings from a study of equal opportunities officers. Explores different definitions and understandings of equal opportunities held by equal opportunities officers. Argues that the level of support for equal opportunities officers from top executives and equal opportunities...

It is currently fashionable to herald “managing diversity” as an approach which signals a new dawn for equal opportunities. Within the management of diversity is a new, more positive approach to employee “‘difference” which prescribes the valuation of individuality and the abandonment...

Over the past two decades, two distinct types of action have been taken to address discrimination in the labour market against people with disabilities. First, the introduction of legislation and, second, the launch of “best practice” initiatives. Analyses company annual reports to test...

The issue of recruiting ethnic minorities into Britain’s public sector institutions has become a highly political one in recent years. One of the institutions that has been at the forefront of the government’s initiatives has been the armed forces. Under the direction of the Ministry of...

The paper's principal focus of analysis is an equalities framework introduced into the UK National Health Service in April 2000. This framework, called “The Vital Connection” is first contextualised against the background of long standing concerns and debates relating to equal opportunities...