Today is International Women’s Day which is a day to celebrate the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women. It was first observed in 1909, and was formally recognised by the United Nations in 1975.
This year’s theme is #BreaktheBias which asks the world to call out instances of bias against women in the workplace, school and home.
In the UK in 2022, women have benefitted from the movements of their predecessors which have led to the introduction of legislation which has broken down barriers in the workplace as well as improve their pay and conditions. In addition, initiatives such as maternity pay and flexible working have greatly contributed to their ability to remain in the workplace, where a previous generation may not have been able to, and generally things have vastly improved for women in the workplace, especially over the past 30 years.
However there are still some areas which need improvement. The gender pay gap is still an issue as well and sadly many women still experience discrimination including unwanted harassment and victimisation in the workplace. Employers need to ensure as far as possible that their staff behave appropriately in the workplace and are aware of the implications of any behaviour which falls below the required standard. Training and monitoring of such staff is important to ensure that employers can control this and prevent any negative consequences for either the individuals or their employer.
Our employment team at B P Collins offers training in Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. If you believe you require the training for your organisation, please email enquiries@bpcollins.co.uk or call 01753889995.
