The fallout from last month's unveiling of the Equality Bill continues apace. The suggestion that employers should, in effect, be paid to hire more women and black and minority ethnic (BME) workers will undoubtedly provoke controversy.
As this is a view expressed by the managing director of one of the leading names on the high street, does it truly indicate the way the wind is blowing in boardrooms across the UK?
The idea put forward by Boots' managing director Alex Gourlay suggests that top employers have yet to be fully convinced of the business case for diversity if they were, surely there would be no need for financial incentives in the form of tax breaks to operate a more diverse workforce?
I don¹t need to lay out that business case here, I would be preaching to the converted. But Gourlay's comments show there is still some way to go in driving the message home among the higher echelons of business.
The Government Equalities Office has immediately ruled out any chance of firms being incentivised to boost BME and female numbers. However, Race for Opportunity, a network of leading employers that promotes workplace diversity (of which Boots is a member), has been less dismissive.
Writing exclusively for Personnel Today this week, Barbara Follett, the parliamentary under-secretary of state for women and equality, said the low employment rate for ethnic minorities demonstrated the need for new laws to help boost their job chances.
Good employers don¹t need legislation or financial incentives to improve workplace diversity; they are already doing it. Forward-thinking HR practices led by innovative HR professionals mean these firms are forging ahead in the field of diversity.
I wonder what will be going through the mind of Boots' HR director when he picks up on his MD¹s comments? Feel free to write in and let us know at personneltoday@rbi.co.uk
Comments (1)
This will only foster division and resentment. It will also have the unfortunate effect of undermining minority employees because people will think they got the position because of their skin colour, not their abilities.
Posted by Ben | October 7, 2008 7:03 AM
Posted on October 7, 2008 07:03