• Schools reviewed policies to improve inclusion and provide greater
teacher support of disabled children.
• Employers changed recruitment policies to avoid unlawful
discrimination.
• A car-parking company sought an independent review of an
accessible parking policy and practices.
• A media entertainment company agreed to give its contact centre
staff training on disability awareness to enable them to respond to
disabled customers in an appropriately sensitive manner.
• A liquor store will make changes to processes and train staff on the
responsible sale of alcohol to assist with deciding whether a customer
is intoxicated (including considering the possibility that some
disabilities may affect customers’ speech, balance and appearance).
Examples of systemic outcomes
in the area of employment and
pre-employment
A Government
agency agreed to
provide training and
mentoring for all staff
on accommodating
Islamic religious beliefs,
including advice on
the Halal diet.
Most complaints to the Commission are in the areas of employment and
pre-employment.
There were a number of systemic outcomes for employees and
employers:
• A company agreed to review its recruitment screening questions
about an applicant’s ability to do the job (relating to medical
conditions, injuries or disabilities that might prevent them doing the
job, or not be able to meet safety requirements).
• An employer will review its recruitment form using the Commission’s
A-Z Pre-Employment Guide, so as not to ask inappropriate questions.33
• A company agreed to update its general behaviour policy with
changes related to language at work and acceptable behaviour.
Examples of other systemic outcomes
An employer agreed
to provide training
to ensure future job
applicants are not
asked their age during
the job recruitment
processes.
There were also other systemic outcomes:
• Policies were amended for permanent residents to access the same
health service as New Zealand citizens.
• A government department agreed to review a policy that prevented
some people using their chiefly titles on their identification.
33 The Commission’s A-Z Pre-Employment Guide is available at:
https://www.hrc.co.nz/resources/pre-employment-guide/
Annual Report 2019
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