Equal pay
Half of HR leaders lack data for pay equity analysis
Nearly half of senior HR leaders struggle to access the relevant data for pay equity analysis, despite the majority seeing addressing pay inequity as a priority.
HR must work to close the pay equity perception gap
There are significant gaps in perceptions around pay equity between senior leaders within organisations and their employee bases.
Sainsbury’s loses bid to throw out equal pay claim
The Court of Appeal has rejected Sainsbury’s attempt to throw out an equal pay claim on a technicality.
Disability
People with invisible disabilities left to fend for themselves at work, finds study
People with invisible disabilities are being left to source support at work alone, new research has found.
Active Inclusion: The story behind Capgemini’s EDI campaign (webinar)
6 July 2023 | Register now for our webinar looking at the story behind Capgemini’s award-winning campaign for its EDI employee networks.
Disability: Making hybrid working accessible for all
Hybrid working is often hailed as important for the inclusion of disabled employees, but it is only successful if organisations challenge themselves to do better.
Age discrimination
Top 10 HR questions April 2023: Bank holiday sickness
What is the entitlement for employees who are off sick on a bank holiday? See this and other top HR questions for April 2023.
Is the workplace now a ‘wokeplace’?
A new survey has highlighted a potential spanner in the works for efforts to retain older workers: the ‘woke’ workplace.
Value of older workers recognised by pledge
More than 100 organisations and businesses have signed up to the Age-friendly Employer Pledge in its first 100 days.
Religious discrimination
Ramadan in the workplace: top tips for employers
With Ramadan approaching, Stephen Simpson provides a five-point checklist for employers on how to support employees observing religious festivals.
Care home wins ‘no jab, no job’ case
A care home operator had the right to dismiss employees who refused to be vaccinated against Covid-19, an employment tribunal has ruled.
Lack of inclusion blights working lives of many UK Hindus
New research has found that hardly any Hindus feel their organisation is happy for them to take time off for religious festivals.
Bullying & harassment
Employer found liable for sexual misconduct at party
A housebuilding company has been found liable of harassment after an employee was assaulted after a Christmas party.
Finance worker wins £32,000 after ‘hormonal’ comments
Ex-banker Jolanda Niccolini has won £32,000 in compensation after her boss accused her of being a “hormone tempest” and irrational.
Culture change: Three focus areas for the CBI’s chief people officer
What will the CBI’s chief people officer need to prioritise as she embarks on a large-scale culture change project?
Retirement
‘Living Pension Employer’ scheme launched
A ‘Living Pension Employer’ standard has been launched by the Living Wage Foundation to provide low-paid workers with security in retirement.
‘Unretiring’ isn’t the answer to reducing economic inactivity
Government suggestions that recent retirees should get back to work will not solve the economic inactivity conundrum, a report finds.
Staff should be informed about pension impact of hours changes
A think-tank says employers should have to inform staff about how changes to their working hours affect savings.
Religion
Top 10 HR questions March 2023: Third-party harassment
We look at the Top 10 HR questions in March 2023, which cover topics including third-party harassment, Ramadan and redundancy.
Ramadan in the workplace: top tips for employers
With Ramadan approaching, Stephen Simpson provides a five-point checklist for employers on how to support employees observing religious festivals.
Top 10 HR questions February 2023: Supporting pregnant employees
Carrying out an individual risk assessment for an employee who is pregnant is a legal obligation in certain circumstances.
Sex discrimination
Finance worker wins £32,000 after ‘hormonal’ comments
Ex-banker Jolanda Niccolini has won £32,000 in compensation after her boss accused her of being a “hormone tempest” and irrational.
Police Scotland chief admits force is institutionally racist
Police Scotland’s chief constable Sir Iain Livingstone has admitted that the force is institutionally racist and discriminatory. Sir Iain, who is due to retire in August, said behaviour in the…
Tesco chair steps down in wake of inappropriate behaviour claims
Tesco chair John Allan will step down after the company’s AGM next month, after he was accused of inappropriate behaviour towards women.
Race discrimination
Whitehall accused of ‘racist bias’ in civil service promotions
The head of the civil service’s largest union has accused Whitehall of ‘racist institutional bias’ in a letter.
Job ad by Ministry of Justice reinforced ’negative ethnic stereotype’
A Ministry of Justice job advertisement for prison officers has fallen foul of advertising standards on race discrimination grounds.
Worker unfairly dismissed following offensive Facebook posts
Tribunal finds London Underground employee who posted offensive remarks about the Black Lives Matter protests on Facebook was unfairly dismissed.
Family friendly working
Budget 2023: Free childcare expanded to younger children
Free childcare for working parents in England will be expanded to children between the ages of nine months and two, today’s Spring Budget has confirmed. At the moment, only families…
What can we expect from the ‘back-to-work’ Budget?
The Chancellor has hinted that this week’s Budget will be a ‘back-to-work’ plan that will offer more help with childcare costs and encourage the over-50s and those with disabilities back…
Winter weather and work: five common employer queries
Employers’ questions on pay, attendance and childcare that are likely to arise during snowy weather.
Sexual orientation
Women from under-represented groups more likely to experience racism
Just over half of women from under-represented ethnic groups experience racism at work, according to new figures from equality research firm Catalyst. Women with darker skin tones, queer women (63%)…
Vodafone franchise worker asked ‘how do lesbians have sex’
A worker at a Vodafone franchise has won £30,000 in compensation after her manager asked her personal questions such as ‘how do lesbians have sex?’. The employee, known as Ms…
Accreditation scheme will ‘encourage LGBT+ people to be themselves’
Minister for equalities Mike Freer has welcomed the launch of a certification scheme for organisations with LGBT+ leadership.