Equality, Diversity and Inclusion introduces the everyday behaviours and decisions that shape a respectful workplace. It helps learners understand what these terms mean in practice and how colleagues, customers and applicants can experience barriers or unfair treatment.

The eight teaching modules explore protected characteristics, discrimination, harassment, bullying, victimisation and disability inclusion. Learners consider accessibility and reasonable adjustments alongside communication, recruitment, development and fair decision-making.

Workplace examples encourage learners to examine assumptions, language, routines and the impact of their decisions. The course asks how someone might be excluded by a process, how information could be made more accessible and when support or a different approach may be needed.

Learners also explore speaking up and using appropriate reporting routes. The emphasis is on recognising concerns, responding respectfully and seeking help within the limits of their role, rather than making unsupported findings about another person.

Suitable for employees, contractors and supervisors, this introductory course supports induction and refresher learning. It uses British English and workplace examples, with relevant legal context explained within the controlled teaching materials. A separate final assessment checks understanding of the course.

By completing this course, learners will be able to:

• Explain equality, diversity and inclusion using workplace examples.

• Identify potential barriers to participation in a routine workplace process.

• Recognise examples that may raise discrimination concerns.

• Distinguish the course’s explanations of harassment, bullying and victimisation.

• Describe why accessibility and reasonable adjustments matter.

• Choose more inclusive language and communication methods.

• Identify assumptions that may affect recruitment or development decisions.

• Respond respectfully when a colleague raises an inclusion concern.

• Use the appropriate workplace route for advice, support or reporting.

• Suggest practical changes that support fair participation within their role.

Course Content

Module 1 - Understanding Equality, Diversity and Inclusion

Module Learning Outcomes

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

• Define equality, diversity and inclusion in plain workplace language.

• Explain why equal opportunity does not always mean identical treatment.

• Recognise inclusive and exclusionary everyday behaviour.

• Identify when a concern should be raised rather than ignored.

Module 2 - Protected Characteristics and the Equality Act 2010

Module Learning Outcomes

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

• Name the nine protected characteristics.

• Understand that everyone has protected characteristics.

• Recognise that pregnancy and maternity has specific rules on unfavourable treatment.

• Know that association and perception do not apply to marriage/civil partnership or pregnancy/maternity.

Module 3 - Direct and Indirect Discrimination

Module Learning Outcomes

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

• Recognise direct discrimination at awareness level.

• Recognise indirect discrimination at awareness level.

• Understand association and perception.

• Understand objective justification without attempting to make legal decisions themselves.

Module 4 - Harassment, Bullying and Victimisation

Module Learning Outcomes

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

• Recognise harassment and sexual harassment at awareness level.

• Understand that not all bullying is Equality Act harassment.

• Recognise victimisation and protected acts.

• Know that anyone can report harassment they have seen or heard at work.

Module 5 - Disability Inclusion, Accessibility and Reasonable Adjustments

Module Learning Outcomes

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

• Understand what reasonable adjustments are.

• Recognise that the duty can arise when an employer knows or could reasonably be expected to know someone is disabled.

• Understand that adjustments are individual and fact-specific.

• Know that employers pay for reasonable adjustments and Access to Work does not replace that duty.

Module 6 - Inclusive Communication, Respect and Everyday Behaviour

Module Learning Outcomes

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

• Recognise stereotype-based assumptions.

• Use respectful, person-focused communication.

• Understand unconscious bias at awareness level.

• Challenge exclusionary behaviour safely and appropriately.

Module 7 - Fair Decisions, Recruitment, Development and Positive Action

Module Learning Outcomes

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

• Use objective job-related criteria.

• Understand that advertising widely can reduce discrimination risk.

• Distinguish positive action from unlawful preferential treatment.

• Know that a protected characteristic can only be used as a recruitment tie-break in narrow circumstances.

Module 8 - Speaking Up, Reporting Concerns and Building an Inclusive Culture

Module Learning Outcomes

By the end of this Module, learners will be able to:

• Know common informal and formal ways to raise a concern.

• Understand the importance of full and fair procedures.

• Recognise protection from victimisation.

• Understand that inclusive culture depends on everyday behaviour and leadership, not policy wording alone.