• Equality is the quality of being the same in quantity or measure or value or status. Diversity as a definition is a term that can be related to having a variety for example a diversity of cultures.

Margaret Mountford one of Sir Alan Sugar's advisers on the TV show 'The Apprentice,' states that women should only be appointed to senior positions on merit.Furthermore she says there should be no positive discrimination. Here are 3 arguments for and against her views:

For

1. As part of equality both females and males should be treaten equally and therefore a woman's skills should not go unnoticed they should be given the same advantages as men, however they must stick by them.
2. positive discrimination should no always be used as a means to make things equal in a workforce.
3. women are no different to men in a business sense, women can acquire the same skills as men and therefore should be given the same opportunities.

Against

1. Occasionally women may be treated different to men on different circumstances such as being given a period of maternity leave that may affect a woman's future thoughts when coming back to a company or business.
2. Those women who strive to be the best they can are not always noticed as males may take a more dominant role.
3. Men have more of an ability to stick to a more work orientated future than women as a result of male domestic views.

Examples of equal opportunities being used in a workforce:

• (www.bized.com/compfact/sainsburys) Sainsbury's aims that all staff can work without fear of discrimination, harassment and bullying and that all colleagues, job applicants, customers and suppliers should be treated fairly. regardless of any race, colour, nationality, gender or disability etc.
• (http://www.britishairwaysjobs.com/) BA states they carefully adhere to the equal opportunities act, and take recruitment and selection very seriously. They say that it is in the applicants best interest to be treated fairly and with respect however it is also essential they recruit and select people with the qualities essential to run the future success of their business.

one article I found that was a bit oblivious to all this when news hit a headline as follows:

A woman prevented from wearing a crucifix while working for British Airways (BA) has lost her attempt of having her decision over turned.(http://www.personneltoday.com/)

Although the item is seen as a form of jewelery and may not abide to BA's uniform there were other workers Sikh workers that were allowed to wear their traditional bangles, it was later found that she was suspended for not removing her crucifix. I think this may be a form of being unfairly treated? and may not abide by the equal opportunities act.

Overall I feel that equal opportunities is taking as a serious matter when businesses consider to recruit and select individuals, furthermore I feel there is a great diversity of people present in today's society and this is why equal opportunities should be followed out effectively and fairly to encourage people with enthusiasm that jobs are available out there for them whether being female or male, or having a disability and where race, colour or beliefs are not affected in recruitment processes.