What is Workplace Equity?

Glossary/W/Workplace Equity

Equity implies fairness and justice as per natural law or right. Under equity, every person has access to equal opportunities as per their needs and is treated fairly. Equity pays special attention to removing any barriers an individual may face at the workplace to ensure every group’s full participation.

Equity aims to create transparent procedures and processes so that all employees understand what to expect in terms of consequences and rewards. To maintain workplace equity, organizations may have to offer different levels of support to different employees.

Not to be confused with:

Diversity

At a basic level, diversity means variety and recognizes the fact that every individual is unique an...

equality

By definition, equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.

Not to be confused with:

Diversity

At a basic level, diversity means variety and recognizes the fact that every individual is unique an...

equality

By definition, equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.

Diversity

At a basic level, diversity means variety and recognizes the fact that every individual is unique an...

equality

By definition, equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.

Diversity

At a basic level, diversity means variety and recognizes the fact that every individual is unique an...

equality

By definition, equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities.

Diversity is the variance in personal, physical, and social characteristics, such as gender, ethnicity, age, and education. At the workplace, it includes employing and encouraging employees from marginalized groups and minority communities. Diversity is simply concerned with hiring people from more diverse backgrounds and does not necessarily eliminate inequities. It does not concern with changing the structures and systems that create the inequities.

By definition, equality is the state of being equal, especially in status, rights, and opportunities. Equality at the workplace translates to equal opportunity and a unified level of support extended to all employees. Unlike equity, the concept of equality does not take into consideration the special needs of employees and extends the same kind of benefits to everyone regardless of whether that’s their need.

Why should workplaces choose equity over equality?

Equity works on the concept of positive discrimination. It focuses on giving more to those who need more. In the workplace, it is important to remember that while equity cannot be achieved through equality, equality can be achieved through equity.

As an organization, those that strive for equality might not take into consideration the need for equity. In diverse organizations where employees come from various backgrounds, societal segments and have different qualifications, there may be a need to extend different treatment and benefits to different groups. The needs of a pregnant person with a whole family that is dependent on them are very different from an individual who has only themselves to look after. In order to ensure that such differences are factored in, organizations need to concentrate on equity over equality.