Are equity and equality the same thing?

An equitable workplace is one that guarantees all employees will have fair treatment, access, opportunity, and advancement and that strives to identify and eliminate barriers preventing some individuals and groups from participating fully in the workplace.

Making things equal for everyone is not the same as making things equitable for everyone. Equality involves providing the same resources to everyone, whereas equity involves providing resources based on what recipients need. While equality is certainly important, striving for equity better helps to ensure the workplace is inclusive and just. For example, a health care organization might be committed to equality and provide the make the same resources available to all populations. Alternatively, the organization could commit to being equitable instead of just equal and target populations that have traditionally been under-served in health care because of factors such as socio-economic status.