Morning, Wednesday, 26th March 2025
online
This conference is bringing together policymakers and stakeholders to discuss latest developments and priorities for promoting women’s equality in UK workplaces.
It will be an opportunity to examine the direction of policy under the new Government, assess implications for legislative proposals and consider prospects for moving forward on longstanding issues. Areas for discussion include the Employment Rights Bill and proposed changes to gender pay gap reporting, statutory sick pay and unfair dismissal protections.
We expect discussion on priorities for the new Office for Equality and Opportunity, which will guide national policy on gender equality, alongside broader initiatives for race, disability and socio-economic equality. We also expect delegates to look at considerations for policy going forward, drawing on the previous government’s Women's Health Strategy.
Key stakeholders and policymakers will consider priorities for further development of proposals to effectively advance employment rights for women, including those who have health or care responsibilities, as well as potential issues for implementation that might need to be addressed.
Sessions in the agenda also look at implications for employers of meeting new obligations, including around pay reporting and menopause support, as well as best practice in implementing proposed changes to effectively foster supportive and inclusive work environments that promote retention and career progression. With new protections against workplace harassment in force as of October 2024 under the Worker Protection Act, attendees will examine employer obligations to prevent harassment and create safer work environments.
Looking at strategies for improving support for women’s health, including addressing absenteeism from menopause-related symptoms, the agenda will bring out examples of how employer-driven strategies can play a role in boosting productivity and reducing health-related employment gaps. In light of recent announcements in the Budget, delegates will also assess government-funded initiatives designed to support working parents from disadvantaged backgrounds by easing some of the childcare burden, such as the expanded investment in school breakfast clubs.
Delegates will also consider female senior-level representation, examining latest developments and examples of best practice in workplace cultures, hybrid work arrangements and evolving pay structures, as well as approaches to addressing gender-based barriers, especially where there are intersectional factors.
All delegates will be able to contribute to the output of the conference, which will be shared with parliamentary, ministerial, departmental and regulatory offices, and more widely. This includes the full proceedings and additional articles submitted by delegates. As well as key stakeholders, those due to attend include officials from DBT; DSIT; DfE, NI; HMPPS; Home Office; MHCLG; and the Welsh Government.
