April 2025
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This conference brought together policymakers and stakeholders to discuss latest developments and priorities for promoting women’s equality in UK workplaces.
It was 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 included the Employment Rights Bill and proposed changes to gender pay gap reporting, statutory sick pay and unfair dismissal protections.
We expected 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 expected delegates to look at considerations for policy going forward, drawing on the previous government’s Women's Health Strategy.
Key stakeholders and policymakers considered 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 looked 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 examined 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 brought 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 also assessed 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 also considered female senior-level representation, examining latest developments, including the recent publication of the FTSE Women Leaders Review report, which shows women now occupy 43% of roles on company boards and 35% of leadership roles at 350 FTSE leadership companies. Those attending reflected on the report’s findings and look at next steps in increasing the number of women who are company chairs and CEOs moving forward. Examples of best practice in workplace cultures were considered, alongside hybrid work arrangements and evolving pay structures, as well as approaches to addressing gender-based barriers, especially where there are intersectional factors.
We are pleased to have been able to include keynote sessions with: Vivienne Artz, CEO, FTSE Women Leaders Review; Minna Cowper-Coles, Research Fellow, Global Institute of Women’s Leadership, King’s College London; Christine Sharif, Policy and Standards Manager, The Survivors Trust; Petra Wilton, Director, Policy and External Affairs, CMI; and Dr Ruth Abrams, Senior Lecturer, Workforce, Organisation and Wellbeing, University of Surrey.
All delegates were 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 that attended include officials from DWP; DBT; MHCLG; DSIT; DfE; DfE, NI; DESNZ; HMRC; HMPPS; CMA; Home Office; the Welsh Government; and The Scottish Government.
