EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY
Manchester United is an equal opportunities employer. Manchester United’s policy is not to
discriminate either directly or indirectly against employees or persons seeking employment on the
grounds of age, disability, ethnic origin, nationality or national origin, religion or belief, race or
colour, gender or gender re-assignment, sexual orientation, marital status or family
circumstances.
Employees should note that discrimination on the grounds mentioned above is unlawful and
Manchester United will not tolerate any direct or indirect discrimination, harassment, bullying and
victimisation by its employees.
For the purpose of this policy the following definitions are applicable:
• Direct Discrimination – the treatment of one individual less favourably than another in the
same or similar circumstances on the grounds of age, disability, ethnic origin, nationality or
national origin, religion or belief, race or colour, gender or gender re-assignment, sexual
orientation, marital status or family circumstances
• Indirect Discrimination - occurs when a requirement or condition is applied to all employees
but with which significantly less of a particular group can comply.
• Harassment and Bullying - is unwanted conduct that violates people’s dignity or creates an
intimidating, hostile, degrading, humiliating or offensive environment.
• Victimisation - occurs when an individual suffers unfavourable treatment because they have
acted in good faith to assert their rights under one of the discrimination Acts or the Equal Pay
Act. For example, on giving evidence in connection with a discrimination claim brought by a
fellow worker.
It is the policy of Manchester United that in its employment practices and procedures:
• The scope and application of this policy applies to all areas of employment within Manchester
United including all employment related activity such as advertising, recruitment and
selection, promotion and training.
• No job applicant or employee will be placed at a disadvantage by requirements or conditions
which have disproportionately adverse effects on his or her particular group which cannot be
shown to be necessary to the satisfactory conduct of the job.
• Entry into Manchester United, and progression within it, will be determined solely by the
application of an objective assessment of personal performance and ability.
• The scope and application of this policy extends to all of the companies, and their operating
departments, within Manchester United and to any contractors working for and on behalf of
Manchester United.
• The effectiveness of the policy will be reviewed and, where necessary, remedial or corrective
action taken. In order to monitor the progress and implementation of this policy Group Human
Resources will collect data from all job applicants, monitor all recruitment decisions, maintain
and review the employment records of all employees and review information gathered via exit
interviews.
• An overall responsibility for ensuring successful implementation of this policy will be vested in
Group Human Resources. However, all staff involved with recruitment, selection and
promotion have a responsibility to ensure equality of opportunity.
• Training in this area will be given to all staff involved with recruitment, selection and
promotion. Equal Opportunities forms part of the Managers Guide to Recruitment and
Selection, Supervisory Training, Management Development Training and is also included in
the Company Induction.
• All employees are expected to comply with this policy and refrain from any actions, including
written or verbal statements, which are detrimental to both the letter and spirit of the policy.
Any deliberate failures to observe these requirements will invoke investigation and the
disciplinary procedure if appropriate.
• Any complaints or grievances arising from perceived failures of adherence to this policy
should initially be registered in accordance with Manchester United’s grievance procedure.
EQUAL OPPORTUNITIES POLICY