The Medical Research Council is an equal opportunity employer and it is the Council’s policy to ensure that no applicant for employment by the Council, and no employee of the Council, receives less favourable treatment than another on the grounds of sex, marital status, colour, race, creed, ethnic or national origin, or is disadvantaged by requirements or conditions which cannot be shown to be justifiable irrespective of the colour, race, nationality, ethnic or national origins, sex or marital status of the person to whom it applies. Similar policies are applied to the employment of disabled persons and to discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation.

It is the objective of this policy that all individuals shall have equal opportunities for employment and advancement on the basis of their ability, qualification or fitness for the work.

Accordingly Council accepts a commitment to ensure that there is no discrimination on the above grounds in recruitment, selection, deployment, training and assessment for promotion or in the application of terms of employment to its employees.

Explanatory Notes on Implementation

1. All those employees concerned with the selection, management or supervision of staff are under a duty to ensure that there is no discrimination in the administration of the Council’s terms of employment.
2. All employees have a personal responsibility, in the course of their employment, for the practical application of this policy as it affects their relations with colleagues and with people outside the Council’s service.
3. The Council will not tolerate discrimination by any of its employees. Discrimination on grounds of sexual orientation, sexual harassment, racial abuse or provocation by Council employees will be regarded as misconduct and treated as a disciplinary matter. The victimisation of anyone who has complained of being abused or discriminated against will be dealt with in the same way.
4. Employees of the Council who receive treatment they believe to be discriminatory should raise the matter through the grievance procedure.
5. The equal opportunity policy shall be displayed in all its establishments and given to all new members of staff. Further advice to staff on Council’s policy on equal opportunity is set out in the MRC Staff Code.
6. The implementation of this policy is the responsibility of the Employment Relations Group at Headquarters Office. The JNCC sub-committee on Equal Opportunity will monitor its practical application.