Some firms start training HR staff to comply with new laws on discrimination

Specialised training includes being more sensitive in handling workplace grievances

- Sharon Salim

Some firms in Singapore have taken the first steps to conduct specialised training for in-house human resources (HR) teams to comply with new laws tackling workplace discrimination.

Their actions follow a landmark Workplace Fairness Bill that was passed in Parliament on Jan 8, which specifies that it is unlawful to make employment decisions such as hiring, firing and appraisals based on five characteristics.

The characteristics are age; nationality; sex, marital status, pregnancy status and caregiving responsibilities; race, religion and language; and disability and mental health conditions.

Employers will have to set up grievance-handling processes and inform employees about the procedures.

Etiqa Insurance Singapore, which implemented a grievance-handling process in 2018, has backed the objectives laid out in the Bill.

Its human capital director, Mr Collin Sta Maria, said the company is working on a framework to train its HR managers on how to be more sensitive in handling workplace grievances.

There are plans to provide enhanced leave policies tailored to personal circumstances, and give staff access to professional counselling services.

Etiqa is also developing targeted training sessions to better equip its HR team to identify and address potential biases.

For example, they will be trained to understand the five sets of protected characteristics outlined in the Bill, and learn best practices in maintaining confidentiality and impartiality in grievance resolution processes.