Equal Employment Opportunities - EEO

Issue/Topic:

Equal Employment Opportunities (EEO)

Definition:

Boards of trustees have a statutory responsibility to be a good employer and to meet the needs of staff belonging to groups that are disadvantaged in the workplace. The State Sector Act 1988 defines these groups as Māori, other ethnic groups, women and people with disabilities.

Key facts and information:

Since February 2002 boards have no longer been required by legislation to report annually to the Chief Review Officer, Education Review Office, on the extent to which objectives in the EEO programme were met.

Since January 2005 boards of trustees have no longer been required by legislation to develop, publish and implement a new EEO programme each year.   Whilst the annual requirement has been repealed, boards are still required to have an EEO programme in place.

The State Sector Act 1988 still requires boards of trustees, as employers in the education service, to:

1. operate a personnel policy that complies with the principle of being a good employer; and
2. make that policy (including the equal employment opportunities programme) available to its employees; and
3. ensure its compliance with that policy and report in its annual report on the extent of its compliance.

As well as the action summarised above, this means boards must have systems in place to ensure:

• their school has good and safe working conditions; and
• they impartially select suitably qualified persons when recruiting employees;  and
• they give individual employees opportunities for professional development to enhance their abilities; and
• they recognise the aims and aspirations of Māori, the employment requirements of Māori and the need for greater involvement of Māori in the education service; and
• they recognise the aims and aspirations, and the cultural differences, of ethnic or minority groups; and
• they recognise the employment requirements of women; and
• they recognise the employment requirements of persons with disabilities.

Sources of more information:

This is where trustees can go to find more information and resources:

• EEO in schools: building on diversity produced by the Ministry of Education in 2003;
• EEO in schools: good practice examples produced by the Ministry of Education in 2002;
• The EEO Trust, PO Box 12929, Penrose, Auckland, Phone: (09) 525 3023 Fax: (09) 525 7076 E-mail: admin@eeotrust.org.nz. The EEO Trust has a wide range of useful EEO-related resources. Their online resource catalogue is available on their website;
• the New Zealand School Trustees Association Helpdesk on 0800 782 435; and
• advice available from staff in local ministry offices.

Employment issues can be complex.  If board members have concerns or want to know more about particular employment issues at their school, they should contact their local New Zealand School Trustees Association (NZSTA) personnel/industrial relations advisor for confidential help.  NZSTA’s website provides information on a number of matters including contact details for NZSTA in each region: www.nzsta.org.nz