Policy on equal rights and opportunities

Forte shall be a workplace free from discrimination and harassment, where employees have equal rights and opportunities regardless of background.
On this page, you can read our policy on equal rights and opportunities at Forte. The policy was adopted by Forte’s Director General on 19 December 2016 and remains in effect until further notice.

Vision

Forte is a workplace free from discrimination and harassment and is an organisation where employees are treated with respect and care. At Forte, employees have equal rights and opportunities regardless of gender, gender identity or expression, ethnicity, religion or belief, disability, sexual orientation, or age. The organisation is designed in an inclusive way that welcomes employees from all backgrounds.

Forte is a workplace where employees feel safe, can grow, and where the organisation is an attractive employer that can attract top talent. The diverse skills, knowledge, and experiences of our staff are respected, and their differences contribute to a modern and professional public agency.

How will this vision be achieved?

Discrimination and harassment based on any ground of discrimination, including sexual harassment, are unacceptable and must not occur at Forte. Managers carry significant responsibility for anti-discrimination efforts, including understanding laws and regulations and creating conditions that allow staff to help realise the vision outlined in this policy.

If an employee expresses a particular need for support or feels discriminated against, this must be promptly investigated and addressed according to Forte’s procedures for handling harassment and offensive treatment.

Forte will actively work to achieve gender balance at all levels. We will strive to remove barriers so that the agency is not only perceived as, but also truly is, open and accessible to everyone. Knowledge about equality and the agency’s work for equal rights and opportunities will be continuously improved. This includes not only anti-discrimination legislation but also efforts to improve accessibility and broaden recruitment.

Responsibilities for equality and gender equality work

By law, Forte is required to actively promote gender equality and equal treatment in its operations and to proactively prevent discrimination. The Director General has the overall responsibility for ensuring this policy is followed and that Forte complies with current legal requirements.

Managers who have signed the delegation of work environment responsibilities are responsible for carrying out the tasks assigned to them. This includes driving, coordinating, and following up on efforts to combat discrimination and promote equal rights and opportunities at Forte. Managers thus have direct responsibility for ensuring that equality work is carried out within the agency and integrated into regular departmental operations.

Every employee has a responsibility to contribute to an inclusive work environment. Employee organisations are essential partners in creating an inclusive workplace.