Positive action

Positive action is a legal approach to address underrepresentation in an organisation’s workforce. This includes any activities which support addressing this underrepresentation:

Positive action enables employers to select for a role from an underrepresented group when they have the choice between two or more applicants and candidates who are equally suitable.

Applying positive action requires you to have the knowledge of your organisational diversity profile and the extent to which it does not reflect local or national demographics (as applicable).

As well as supporting you to make appointment decisions, positive action enables organisations to provide additional support, for example covering how to complete an application form or running a CV workshop.

While positive action is legal in the UK, please note that positive discrimination is illegal. Positive discrimination is where, regardless of suitability for a role, an individual from an underrepresented group is shortlisted, appointed or promoted.