Employment Equity Policy

Approved: March 4, 2002

Policy Statement

The Toronto Public Library is committed to a policy of fairness and full equity in
employment and services in recognition of its obligations and responsibilities as an
employer.

The citizens of Toronto are best served by a public service that reflects the diversity of
the community which it serves. This will be achieved through employment equity
programs that remove barriers and monitor outcomes rather than by establishing
requirements to precisely reflect the percentage of designated groups in the community.

The Toronto Public Library will:

  1. hire and promote on the basis of merit and potential;
  2. compensate fairly according to the value of the work performed;
  3. set objectives for equitable representation;
  4. develop a proactive equity plan which will include mechanisms for measuring and
    monitoring outcomes and results;
  5. publicly report results through an Annual Report to the City of Toronto; and
  6. create a climate of understanding and mutual respect for the dignity of each
    individual.

Full equality will be achieved through the combined efforts of the Toronto Public Library,
its employees, the union, and the community. Specifically, the Toronto Public Library
will hire and promote on the basis of merit and potential:

  1. provide equality of opportunity to all individuals, and identify and remove artificial
    and systemic barriers to full employment with respect to an employees' or
    potential employees' race, ancestry, place of origin, colour, ethnic origin,
    citizenship, creed, sex, sexual orientation, gender identity, age, record of
    offences, marital status, family status, disability and level of literacy;
  2. commit to principles of potential and merit as key criteria for hiring and
    promotion; will make the best use of the talents of all available workers
    regardless of their gender, sexual orientation, disability, racial status or Aboriginal
    status;
  3. ensure equitable compensation practices consistent with pay equity
    requirements;
  4. work with its employees, the union and community organizations, in the
    development of strategies and special initiatives to promote equity in the
    workplace;
  5. implement special programs and accommodation as required to assist specific
    groups of workers to overcome discrimination, and the barriers of systemic
    discrimination;
  6. promote the development of proactive strategies by establishing qualitative and
    quantitative objectives specific to equity principles. Progress on the achievement
    of results will be measured and reported to the Toronto Public Library Board and
    City Council;
  7. undertake to educate and inform its employees on equity principles.

Application

This policy covers all employees and prospective employees of the Toronto Public
Library. This policy takes into account issues regarding protection of privacy and
freedom of information.

Program Components

The Toronto Public Library's Employment Equity Program will consist primarily of the
following components:

  1. communication about equity principles, practices and programs;
  2. policy review and development on equity issues (work and family life initiatives
    which highlight Library policies and departmental practices);
  3. advice and support to departments on the development and implementation of
    special initiatives; barrier removal (accommodation measures); supportive
    measures (retention, retraining, deployment); and positive measures (outreach);
  4. for the purpose of identifying barriers and improving process, monitor, provide
    input and make recommendations on the recruitment, selection, promotional and
    appointment processes and outcomes when required;
  5. input on staff development and training programs; and
  6. exchange of information via networks with City of Toronto and other municipal,
    provincial and federal levels and with community agencies.

Information Requirements

To support the implementation of the employment equity policy and specific program
components, the Toronto Public Library will engage in the following activities:

  1. conduct voluntary employment equity surveys (applicants and workforce); and
  2. establish and maintain confidential employment equity databases in which:Equity-related information regarding designated group status is maintained in a confidential database.

Use is restricted solely to staff who are authorized to engage in activities specifically
related to the Toronto Public Library's achievement of equity in employment and
services. Applicant data are kept separate from employee data.

Employee and applicant data on designated group status are used for monitoring
participation rates, measuring and identifying outcomes, identifying outreach priorities
and for responding to Ontario Human Rights Commission complaints.

Data are compiled through a voluntary survey conducted with employees and verified
periodically for accuracy and changes, particularly with respect to disability status.

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