Knowsley Council in Liverpool has been awarded accredited status for the Liverpool City Region Fair Employment Charter.
The Fair Employment Charter was established to celebrate fair employment practices and improve current standards. It has two levels, aspiring and accredited, which recognise quality and effective practice. Employers are assessed on their practice, processes and procedures against a range of criteria, which includes healthy, just, fair and inclusive workplaces.
The council was recognised as accredited due to its commitment to safe working, its homeworking and travel policy, workplace mental health policy, fair pay and hours, and employee assistance programme, which provides 24/7 support around mental health and counselling, as well as discounts in high street stores and leisure facilities.
It was also praised for meeting standards relating to flexible working requests, measures to minimise use of unstable and temporary contracts, and paying the real living wage or above to its employees and adult care providers’ staff.
The council received additional recognition due to its action to improve equality, diversity and inclusion, training plan which ensures all staff and managers receive appropriate training to do their job effectively, engagement with trade unions representing its staff, and its interactive induction programme, the Knowsley Better Together Journey.
It also has 10 established employee networks, including a Youth Employment Network, Black and Ethnic Minority Network and Multi-Faith and Belief Network, which were set up by staff.
Councillor Jayne Lonergan, cabinet member for resources at Knowsley Council, said: “I’m delighted that the council has achieved the accredited status for the Fair Employment Charter, recognising our good employment practices. We are passionate about providing a great place to work, where our employees feel valued, supported and respected. Our people are our most important asset and it’s important that they are work for a healthy, fair, inclusive and just employer.”