Diversity in the workplace to take centre stage

Sexism and the City, a new report published today by equality pressure group The Fawcett Society, outlines the harsh reality that mothers-to-be and new mothers experience the most discrimination in the labour market. The report is backed by Tessa Jowell, minister for the Olympics and London and reveals that more than 30,000 women a year in Britain lose their jobs for simply being pregnant.

CIPD diversity adviser, Dianah Worman, welcomes the research but argues that changing deep-rooted workplace practices will take more than a politically expedient gesture. She calls for a diversity agenda to punch its weight through a national awareness raising campaign.

ìThe war for talent is a key preoccupation with top teams in business, yet so much talent continues to be wasted through the failure to provide fair and tailored working conditions for all. We need to make the business case for diversity and inclusion through a campaign that hits where it hurts - namely, the bottom line on the balance sheet.

ìThere is mounting evidence from a range of CIPD research that shows the need for the business case to reflect organisational circumstances and objectives. Organisations need to focus on the design of workplace policies and practices that address the needs of business and people equally seriously to ensure the survival and economic health of both.

ìChange is a long time coming and the mounting evidence produced by the trail blazers needs to be trumpeted as loudly as possible. Everyone stands to gain from a national campaign offering solutions that work, rather than just bleating perpetually about the problems. It would give the ammunition needed to overcome the resistance put up by the reactionaries in business.î

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