News & Blog

 

 

 

In the second week of LGBT+ history month and Ramadan soon approaching, here are some EDI news stories over the last week.

 

Ink and Identity in the Modern Workplace

With attitudes towards the workplace in a constant shift, employers and employees are redefining large parts of the professional world. According to research by Brightmine, the proportion of organisations enforcing strict dress codes between 2018 and 2024 fell from 30 per cent to just 4.3 per cent, while the percentage of employers now allowing visible tattoos and piercings beyond the ears has increased to over 70 per cent.

 

Read more here

 

European Assembly backs sweeping ban on conversion practices

The Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) has issued a landmark resolution advocating for a complete prohibition of LGBTQ+ conversion practices across its member states.

 

Read more here

 

ONS report: societal treatment impacts lesbian, gay and bisexual life expectancy

Groundbreaking analysis by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) reveals that individuals identifying as lesbian, gay, or bisexual (LGB+) in England and Wales have an approximately one-year shorter life expectancy compared to their heterosexual counterparts.

 

Read more here

 

Equality regulator partners with National Fire Chiefs Council to tackle discrimination in fire and rescue services

The NFCC is the professional voice of the UK Fire and Rescue Service. Its partnership with the equality regulator sets out shared expectations for collaboration under the EHRC’s uniformed services programme. The programme aims to address race and sex-based discrimination, harassment, and victimisation within fire, police, and armed forces.

 

Read more here

 

 

 

Oxbridge admissions must be strictly meritocratic, with no bias for or against private schools

It should go without saying that admission to our hardest-to-get-into universities must be entirely on merit. Cambridge and Oxford are centres of genuine excellence, and as such need to continue to attract the very brightest and best students. There should be no presumption in favour of applicants from independent schools; likewise, there should be no presumption against them.

Read more here

 

Ramadan in the workplace: top tips for employers

Ramadan begins on 18 February and is scheduled to end on 20 March.

The beginning of Ramadan is an ideal time to remind employers of the importance of supporting Muslim staff who are observing the Islamic holy month. Here is a round up five points for employers to remember during Ramadan.

 

Read more here

 

Why inclusion is as important as ever to protect workers

Last year saw a widespread pulling back of EDI budgets and activities in the US, with reverberations felt around the world. Maria Hoeritzauer explains why UK legislation continues to protect workers from harassment and discrimination, and why inclusion is as important as ever.

 

Read more here

 

No timeline for equal pay based on ethnicity and disability

The equalities minister has confirmed there is still no timeline for when the right to equal pay for ethnic minorities and disabled people will be enshrined into law, as promised in Labour’s election manifesto.

 

Read more here

 

Manager dismissed for being ‘unpromotable’ wins appeal

A case in which a woman with endometriosis was unfairly dismissed by consultancy firm Accenture could pose a challenge to some professional services firms’ practice of dismissing employees considered ‘unpromotable’.

 

Read more here

 

Class bias in the creative industries

Half of creatives report facing discrimination because of their working class background, including having accents mocked.

 

Read more here