http://www.equality-ne.co.uk Equality North East is a comprehensive website offering fact sheets, a search facility, news items, best practice information relating to race, gender, disability and work-life balance. Thu, 11 Mar 2010 12:00:00 GMT http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/news/articles/8149 The Work Foundation has launched a wide-ranging investigation into the UK workplace. Using independent research and led by senior figures from business, the public sector and trade unions, the Good Work Commission’s look at quality of work issues is one of the most comprehensive to be conducted in recent years. The aim is to examine the major challenges of work in the 21st century and redefine the notion of good work - work that is rewarding for business, society and individuals. Full story... http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/news/articles/8148 In a case highlighting a gap in discrimination legislation, the Court of Appeal has held that a temporary agency worker could not pursue discrimination claims against either the end user client for whom he performed work or the agency that supplied him (Muschett v HM Prison Service). Mr Muschett entered into a contract for services with Brook Street agency and was supplied to HM Prison Service (HMPS) to carry out a temporary role as laundry assistant at a young offenders' unit. At the end of his assignment he brought claims against both Brook Street and HMPS for unfair dismissal, wrongful dismissal, race, sex and religious discrimination. Full story... http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/news/articles/8147 Gender discrimination may still be a problem in UK workplaces in ten years' time, it has been predicted. According to Friends Provident, attitudes towards work continue to be a barrier, with men still considered the typical breadwinners in households. In its Visions of Britain 2020 report, the company notes that the different attitudes of men and women towards employment are likely to fuel this inequality in the workplace. Indeed, the study found that 24 per cent of females consider salary to be the most important factor at work, compared to 37 per cent of males. Full story... http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/news/articles/8146 Diversity should be threaded through all talent management activities and strategies so organisations can reap the benefits of accessing and developing talent from the widest possible pool. This is the main finding of a new Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) research report, Opening Up Talent for Business Success: Integrating Talent Management and Diversity, launched to coincide with International Women’s Day. The research suggests that organisations, however, are not yet up to speed. Those that are dragging their feet are encouraged to catch up with the best in the field to ensure that they fully utilise the skills of all their employees in ways that are aligned to business objectives. Full story.... http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/news/articles/8145 HR professionals and managers have been urged to ensure they have procedures in place to help them deal with mental and physical health and well-being in the workplace. Dr Clare Kelliher, of Cranfield School of Management, said employees who feel safe in their working environment and who are not over-loaded with tasks are more likely to build a close relationship with colleagues so they can look out for each other. Full story... http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/news/articles/8144 The Supreme Court has ruled against a Christian registrar who was disciplined by Islington Council for refusing to conduct same-sex civil partnerships. Lillian Ladele claimed she had been discriminated against for refusing to go against her religious conscience. In 2008 an appeal tribunal overturned a previous decision by an employment tribunal that the north London council had discriminated against her. The Supreme Court has now refused her permission to challenge that ruling. Miss Ladele said she might take the case to the European Court of Human Rights. Full story... http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/news/articles/8143 A film to tackle homophobic bullying is to be sent to every school in Scotland. FIT, produced by Stonewall, features six teenagers, some of whom are gay, at a dance club. It has been compared to television shows Glee and Skins, both of which have been commended for their take on gay issues. It has already been sent to schools in England and will begin arriving in Scottish schools today. Carl Watt, director of Stonewall Scotland, said: "Too many young people have told us they experience homophobic bullying in the classroom and too many teachers have told us they haven’t had the training they need to tackle it. Full story... http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/news/articles/8142 Business leaders have called on employers to keep a focus on diversity in the workplace. Speaking yesterday at Stonewall’s workplace conference sponsored by Barclays, Brendon Riley, CEO of IBM UK, and vice-admiral Alan Massey, Second Sea Lord, Royal Navy, both used their keynote speeches to call on employers to keep focused on workplace equality for lesbian, gay and bisexual staff. Massey said: "Changing behaviours takes some time. Changing the underlying attitudes and culture takes a whole lot longer. The continued engagement of the lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) community is vitally important to us to ensure that it becomes an embedded part of our business, a fundamental part of a fair leadership culture." Full story.... http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/news/articles/8141 Employers are likely to be left confused as to what counts and does not count as a protected belief under the Equality Bill, employers groups have warned. It follows the publication of a draft Employment Statutory Code of Practice, which explains that vegans, atheists and Scientologists could be given the same protection against discrimination as religious groups, under the legislation. However, the government has distanced itself from the code, which was published by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC). Full story... http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/news/articles/8140 Deep public spending cuts would lead to heavy job losses for women and substantially reduce their income in retirement, according to a report published today (Wednesday) by the TUC. The report, Women and the Recession - One Year On, warns that early public spending cuts would hit female employment hardest because around four in ten women work in public sector occupations, compared to less than two in ten men. The report identifies Wales (46.6 per cent), the North East (45.9 per cent) and Scotland (43.1 per cent) as the areas where the highest proportion of women work in the public sector. Women working in these areas are most vulnerable to job losses resulting from public spending cuts, the report says. Full story... http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/news/articles/8139 Women came together to celebrate International Women’s Day (8 March) to debate how climate change and the decisions being taken to tackle the environmental challenges the World faces disproportionately impacts on women in society. Clare Williams, Chair Northern TUC Women’s Group, in her introduction explained this year it was felt it was important to think about how we can build on the work of the network, particularly the work in supporting women internationally, as well as tackling poverty in our own Region by understanding better, and developing priorities on the impact of climate change, and the impact of the decisions being taken on our behalf such as recently in Copenhagen. Full story... http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/news/articles/8138 Six out of 10 people (62%) in Britain have had at least one time in their life where they found it difficult to cope mentally, according to a survey published today. Mental health charity Together said the figures showed there should be an end to a "them and us" attitude to the topic. The research, commissioned to launch the charity’s annual Mental Wellbeing Week, found that 70% of people had suffered stress, 59% anxiety and 55% depression. Full story... http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/news/articles/8137 Vegans and atheists should be afforded the same protection from discrimination as religious groups, guidance on the Equality Bill states. The code of practice, prepared by the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to help employers interpret the Bill, would also enable Rastafarians and Scientologists to be protected. The code states: "A belief need not include faith or worship of a god or gods, but must affect how a person lives their life or perceives the world." Full story.... http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/news/articles/8136 Employers are not up to speed with threading diversity through talent management strategies and are missing out on the benefits of accessing and developing talent from the widest possible pool, according to research from the CIPD. The CIPD has called on employers to recruit and develop a wealth of diverse groups to nurture the unique perspectives they can bring. The research explores what is going on in UK-based organisations - through a series of structured focus groups of over 100 people, with a variety of HR directors, diversity and talent professionals - and adds to an increasing body of knowledge that places talent management as the top business concern in all economic sectors. Full story..... http://www.equality-ne.co.uk/news/articles/8135 JK Rowling has been voted the most inspirational and admired entrepreneurial female role model for young women in the UK. According to The Co-operative Financial Services (CFS), the Harry Potter author was followed by fashion designer Stella McCartney and TV Dragon’s Den star and successful businesswoman Deborah Meaden in a survey of the nation’s 14 - 24 year-olds. The research also revealed 75% believe it is more difficult for women to get ahead in business while more than 80% felt they needed to work harder than men to get ahead. And, less than 8% had ambitions to run their own business. Full story...