The Royal Mail’s new director of diversity has pledged to change the
company’s work culture after the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC) announced
it is investigating sexual harassment in sorting offices.
The investigation was launched after the EOC received 22 complaints, many
claiming the company failed to investigate cases of harassment promptly.
Satya Kartara, who has been in her post for only three weeks, said she is
currently recruiting a diversity team that will attempt to address the problem.
Between January 1999 and July 2002, the company was involved in 48 sexual
harassment employment tribunals. Almost two-thirds of the 130 complaints
investigated have been upheld.
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Kartara told Personnel Today that the company has new grievance procedures
and is training 30 current staff to be harassment advisers to employees.
The firm will fast-track all formal complains ensuring they are dealt with
within a set timeframe, and all staff will receive training about the benefits
of a diverse workforce.
