Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Personnel Today

Register
Log in
Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+

Careers in HRCIPDEquality, diversity and inclusionLatest NewsThe HR profession

CIPD deputy chief Linda Holbeche calls for HR to take lead on diversity rather than have it taken away

by Louisa Peacock 19 Sep 2007
by Louisa Peacock 19 Sep 2007

Now is the time for human resources professionals to prove they can lead on diversity, rather than have it taken away from them, the second in command at the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) has urged.

Linda Holbeche, research and policy director at the CIPD, said HR must seize the diversity agenda as its own, as it is one of the function’s chief ways prove its worth to the business.

Last month, Trevor Phillips, chairman of the new Commission for Equality and Human Rights, which launches next month, said that diversity should be taken away from HR and become a separate function within businesses â€“ to ensure that the issue cuts right across recruitment, products and services.









audio icon


Listen to Linda Holbeche’s comments on diversity 


“HR must seize the diversity agenda – we don’t need tonnes more policy around what diversity needs.”


Speaking exclusively to Personnel Today at the CIPD annual conference in Harrogate, Holbeche said: “HR must seize the diversity agenda. The function has the licence to create greater awareness across business to make managers and employers know the reality of diversity and equal opportunities.

“Diversity is the arena in which HR can exercise leadership â€“ it has owned diversity for years just as it owned equal opportunities, and it is one way it can prove the business case of having an HR function.”

Holbeche denied any implication that the move to take diversity away from HR was because departments could not cope.

Sign up to our weekly round-up of HR news and guidance

Receive the Personnel Today Direct e-newsletter every Wednesday

OptOut
This field is for validation purposes and should be left unchanged.

“I hope it is not the case that HR cannot manage. HR now has an opportunity to prove it can lead on diversity issues,” she added.

Holbeche joined the CIPD earlier this year and was previously director of research and strategy at Roffey Park Institute for 12 years.

Louisa Peacock

previous post
Leading civil service HR director Angela O’Connor warns of difficult times ahead for public sector
next post
Liberal Democrats vote to increase cost of work permits needed by businesses to employ migrant workers

You may also like

Number of Neet women rises but figures fall...

23 May 2025

Flexible working for teachers initiative extended

23 May 2025

Unions ponder strike action after public sector pay...

23 May 2025

Sighing in frustration at colleague was discriminatory, judge...

23 May 2025

Fire and rehire: the relocation question

22 May 2025

Public sector workers gain pay rises of up...

22 May 2025

Six ways to kickstart conversations about team stress...

22 May 2025

UK net migration slashed by half in one...

22 May 2025

How neuroscience can unlock employee recognition

22 May 2025

UK universities fret over fall in international students

22 May 2025

  • 2025 Employee Communications Report PROMOTED | HR and leadership...Read more
  • The Majority of Employees Have Their Eyes on Their Next Move PROMOTED | A staggering 65%...Read more
  • Prioritising performance management: Strategies for success (webinar) WEBINAR | In today’s fast-paced...Read more
  • Self-Leadership: The Key to Successful Organisations PROMOTED | Eletive is helping businesses...Read more
  • Retaining Female Talent: Four Ways to Reduce Workplace Drop Out PROMOTED | International Women’s Day...Read more

Personnel Today Jobs
 

Search Jobs

PERSONNEL TODAY

About us
Contact us
Browse all HR topics
Email newsletters
Content feeds
Cookies policy
Privacy policy
Terms and conditions

JOBS

Personnel Today Jobs
Post a job
Why advertise with us?

EVENTS & PRODUCTS

The Personnel Today Awards
The RAD Awards
Employee Benefits
Forum for Expatriate Management
OHW+
Whatmedia

ADVERTISING & PR

Advertising opportunities
Features list 2025

  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • Instagram
  • Linkedin


© 2011 - 2025 DVV Media International Ltd

Personnel Today
  • Home
    • All PT content
  • Email sign-up
  • Topics
    • HR Practice
    • Employee relations
    • Learning & training
    • Pay & benefits
    • Wellbeing
    • Recruitment & retention
    • HR strategy
    • HR Tech
    • The HR profession
    • Global
    • All HR topics
  • Legal
    • Case law
    • Commentary
    • Flexible working
    • Legal timetable
    • Maternity & paternity
    • Shared parental leave
    • Redundancy
    • TUPE
    • Disciplinary and grievances
    • Employer’s guides
  • AWARDS
    • Personnel Today Awards
    • The RAD Awards
  • Jobs
    • Find a job
    • Jobs by email
    • Careers advice
    • Post a job
  • Brightmine
    • Learn more
    • Products
    • Free trial
    • Request a quote
  • Webinars
  • Advertise
  • OHW+