January 2024
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This conference focuseed on next steps for employment and inclusion of ethnic minorities in the workplace.
Bringing together key stakeholders and policymakers, it followed the Government’s publication of Ethnicity pay reporting: guidance for employers, and was an opportunity to discuss priorities for continuing progress on the Government’s Inclusive Britain commitments to improve occupational outcomes and in-work progression of people from ethnic minority backgrounds.
Delegates also discussed progress on the Parker Review’s aims of improving ethnic diversity on UK boards and strategies for companies to meet targets for representation in boards and senior management positions, in addition to broader policy priorities for career progression of ethnic minorities.
Further sessions considered wider issues facing ethnic minorities, such as the disproportionate number of insecure workers and the impact of heightened cost of living pressures. In light of this, delegates assessed priorities for recruitment processes and retention of workers.
Reducing discrimination was also a focus in the seminar, which explored latest thinking and best practice for employers in developing strategies for inclusion in the workplace, and for their implementation. This included moving forward priorities such as eradicating unconscious bias, adapting to changing cultures and promoting inclusion through leadership.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Raja Hanna, Head of Strategy, Department for Work and Pensions; Rebecca Thomas, Head of Employment Policy, Equality and Human Rights Commission; and Doyin Atewologun, Founder and CEO, Delta; Leadership Programme Advisor, Rhodes Trust, University of Oxford; and Committee Member, Parker Review.
Overall, areas for discussion included:
- policy:
- assessing the next steps for Inclusive Britain proposals - what is needed from policy and key stakeholders if targets are to be achieved
- ways forward for improving the educational outcomes of ethnic minorities - assessing the effectiveness of In-Work Progression for UC claimants
- ethnic minority pay gap reporting: options and strategic pathways for uptake of reporting measures - next steps for utilising evidence - improving inclusion of ethnic minorities in senior positions
- discrimination:
- strategies for addressing unconscious and conscious biases in recruitment and workplace culture
- implementing measures for tackling workplace discrimination, including a zero-tolerance culture and elevating experiences of microaggressions
- addressing intersectional barriers: priorities for reducing disadvantage for ethnic minorities with additional protected characteristics
- recruitment practices: reviewing and improving processes - exploring the role of digital tools in reducing bias and decision-making - embedding options for flexibility and accommodations
- wider socioeconomic considerations: adapting support for issues such as heightened cost of living - addressing barriers to work and progression - next steps for protecting gig economy workers
The conference was an opportunity for stakeholders to consider the issues alongside key policy officials who attended from the CCC; Defra; Department for the Economy, NI; DfE; DFHERIS, ROI; DLUHC; DPENDPDR, ROI; DfT; DSIT; DWP; HMPPS; HMRC; Home Office; HSE; IfATE; ICIBI; MOJ; NAO; OEP; Ofcom; ONS; The Scottish Government; and the Welsh Government.
