• Codes & guidance
• Civil Service policy
• Leadership
• Diversity
  • Guidance for managers
    • Age
    • Caring
    • Disability
    • Gender equality
    • Gender identity
    • Harassment and bullying
    • Race and ethnicity
    • Religion or belief
    • Sexuality/sexual orientation
  • Guidance for employees
  • Promoting Equality, Valuing Diversity
  • Work/life balance
  • Useful resources
  • Publications
• Professional Skills for Government
• Groups & networks
• Communities
• Careers & Development
• Civil Service pensions
• Employee engagement
• Events

I am a civil servant

Race and ethnicity

Different backgrounds, experiences and points of view bring positive benefits to our teams and the work they produce.

These are some things you should remember when recruiting or managing your team day-to-day.

What you should do

When recruiting:

• Think about where you advertise job opportunities - use channels such as ethnic minority press, if practical.
• Ensure the recruiting panel is representative in terms of gender and ethnicity.
• Take the cue from the interviewee as to whether to shake hands - some will be comfortable with this, others may not.
• Understand that some people may avoid eye contact, as that is taught as respectful in some cultures.
• Acknowledge that people may dress differently to you.

When at work:

• All managers and staff should discuss and agree their objectives for the year. Objectives should give all staff the opportunity to achieve their potential.
• Harassment, bullying or discrimination of staff on any grounds is not tolerated in the Civil Service.
• Acknowledge that some staff may dress differently - and that others may do so on select occasions.
• Respect your employees' different dietary requirements - label any food provided and keep meat and meat-free items separate wherever possible.
• Understand that some staff may not participate in birthday/Christmas/New Year celebrations.
• Promote inclusion by arranging events in alcohol-free venues.
• Be aware of departmental policy regarding prayer, and ensure you know where any prayer rooms are.
• Consult staff about workloads and setting deadlines for them during times when they may be fasting. Some people may perform optimally in the morning when energy levels are at their peak, rather than during the afternoon and early evening period.

When making leave arrangements:

• Be aware that members of staff who have strong community ties may request leave at short notice to attend funerals. Extended leave may be required if a funeral is abroad.

Racial, cultural and ethnic identity are often, but not always, closely related with religion or belief, and we should remember this when working with colleagues.