Achievement Relative to Opportunity Policy and Procedures

All staff members at the University.

To ensure a fair and equitable evaluation of achievement when personal circumstances have affected staff members’ participation in the work place.

Achievement relative to opportunity is an evaluative concept enabling fair and equitable assessment of a staff member’s achievements given their personal circumstances. This is consistent with a commitment to excellence, equity and “good employer” obligations under the State Sector Act. It is for staff whose personal circumstances such as carer responsibilities, health and disability, cultural or community obligations and unforeseen personal events have a significant impact on their workplace participation.

The related document Achievement Relative to Opportunity Guidelines gives further explanation and support for implementing this policy.

1. Employment-related decisions, including appointments, access to career development and progression, and promotion, will consider the effects of an individual’s personal circumstances on their participation and achievements in the workplace.

2. Fractional appointments by or in themselves are not within the scope of this policy.

Assessing achievement

3. The following factors are to be taken into account in assessing achievement relative to opportunity:

• Whether the quality and impact of achievements are consistent with expectations of performance at the relevant academic or professional staff level.
• The overall productivity of achievements, including the quantity, rate, or consistency of achievements over time.

4. Personal circumstances that may have a significant impact on workplace participation include:

• Responsibilities to whānau, hapū, iwi and hāpori
• Other cultural expectations or circumstances
• Carer responsibilities for children, elderly parents, or ill family members
• Ill-health, disability, impairment or medical conditions, whether temporary, episodic or permanent
• Traumatic events or circumstances such as a relationship breakdown, death in the family or family violence.

Application of achievement relative to opportunity

5. If staff members are seeking consideration of achievement relative to opportunity, they should request this on their application.

6. Staff seeking consideration under this policy should include relevant information in their application. They are not required to disclose specific details of personal circumstances but should provide enough context to enable a fair assessment. Decision-makers will only consider information explicitly disclosed by the applicant and will not make assumptions about personal circumstances.

7. Employment-related decision-makers can then consider these circumstances and the effect they have had on the applicant’s achievements.

8. Performance prior to, and following the period concerned will be taken into account.

The following definitions apply to this document:

Carers are staff or students who look after a friend, family, whānau or aiga members.

Hāpori means community.

Hapū is sub-tribe.

Iwi means tribe.

Significant means circumstances that materially impair participation and achievement in the workplace.

Staff member refers to an individual employed by the University on a full time or part time basis.

University means Waipapa Taumata Rau, University of Auckland and includes all subsidiaries.

Whānau means family group.

Include the following:

• Employment Relations Act 2000
• Human Rights Act 1993
• Equity Policy and Procedures
• Family and Relationship Violence and Abuse Policy
• Family and Relationship Violence and Abuse Prevention and Management Guidelines
• Flexible Work Policy and Procedures
• Staff with Disabilities Policy
• Work, Life and Family and Carers Policy
• Achievement Relative to Opportunity Guidelines

Owned by: Director, Human Resources
Content manager: Associate Director, Staff Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, Human Resources
Approved by: Vice-Chancellor
Date approved: 27 May 2014
Reviewed date: 14 April 2025
Next Review date: 14 April 2030

More information about the University’s commitment to be a fair and inclusive place to study and work can be found on the Equity at the University website.