Fostering equality and diversity inside the institutions of the European Uniona linguistic analysis of their human resources legal framework

Abstract

A preliminary reading of the human resources management legal framework applicable to Civil Servants working for the EU Institutions (EU HRM Legal Framework) shows a language that is not cohesive and does not substantiate the principles of equality and diversity as underpinned by the European Union’s core values. This research examines the linguistic features of the EU HRM Legal Framework by exploring the features related to equality and diversity included in the applicable staff legal rules and provisions. The methodological approach of this research entails the creation and analysis of a unique corpus composed of all the applicable HR legal provisions in force in the EU Institutions, and the examination of the terminology related to equality and diversity in four different areas – gender, LGBTI, persons with a disability and elderly. An analysis of the Discourse of the EU HRM Legal Framework deepens the finding of the Corpus research, and the analysis of a questionnaire for HR and Legal Officers working for the different Institutions complements the data, with the aim of triangulating the research findings. The research concludes with highlights of the possible improvements to the language used in the EU HRM legal framework, to the extent necessary for fostering equality and diversity principles.