By Craig Leroux, Senior Communications Officer

A proposed university policy on employment equity has been posted to the website of the University Secretariat for review and comment by the Queen’s community. The proposed policy would update Queen’s existing employment equity policy, which has not been reviewed and revised since its adoption in the late 1990’s.

“Queen’s values diversity and is committed to an inclusive workplace,” says Irène Bujara, University Advisor on Equity and Human Rights.” This new policy provides a needed update to the old one, clearly stating Queen’s commitment to employment equity and setting out responsibilities in relation to our employment equity program.”

The new policy places the responsibility for Queen’s employment equity program with the office of the Provost and tasks the Equity Office with the development of the employment equity plan and measuring the university’s progress.

The proposed employment equity procedure, which is associated with the new policy, further outlines the responsibilities of administrators, departments, and managers to identify barriers and areas for improvement, to set goals and to implement positive policies and practices.

In addition to the proposed policy, the Queen’s Council on Employment Equity (CEE) has been working to facilitate the direction and implementation of the university’s Employment Equity Plan. The council, made up of representatives from all employee groups, has made important progress over the past year.

“The council underwent a restructuring exercise this past year and, together with its Federal Contractors Program Action Group, has made important strategic strides in addressing some of our identified gaps in areas of equity and diversity,” says Gordon Smith, Vice Dean in the Faculty of Arts and Science, and Chair of the CEE.

The employment equity policy and its associated procedure are now available for review. Comment is invited from the Queen’s community by Nov. 28, and may be sent by email.