Equal employment opportunity (EEO)
Equal Employment Opportunity is about:
making sure that workplaces are free from all forms of unlawful discrimination and harassment, and
providing programs to assist members of EEO groups.
EEO groups are people affected by past or continuing disadvantage or discrimination in employment. These groups are:
women
Aboriginal people and Torres Strait Islanders
members of racial, ethnic, and ethno-religious minority groups
people with a disability.
Discrimination is treating someone unfairly or harassing them because they belong to a particular group. Under the Anti-Discrimination Act 1977, it is against the law in NSW for any employer, including the Government, to discriminate against an employee or job applicant because of their: age; sex; pregnancy; disability (includes past, present or possible future disability); race, colour, ethnic or ethno-religious background, descent or nationality; marital status; carer's responsibilities; homosexuality; transgender.
Both direct and indirect discrimination is against the law. Direct discrimination means treatment that is obviously unfair or unequal.
Indirect discrimination means having a requirement that is the same for everyone but has an effect or result that is unfair to particular groups.
Employees have the right to a workplace that is free from unlawful discrimination and harassment.
