Are stereotypes impacting your career and work decisions?
In this article, we present some of the ideas that prevail about gender bias and women in the workplace. We present you with a question, ask for your answer and then provide the research which supports or refutes the idea. It’s a fun way of checking how much you believe the myths and stereotypes which […]
Women’s career progression: how to address the barriers and accelerate progress
Gender pay gaps are getting increased media attention. But the issue is not just a pay one – it’s one of women’s representation at all levels in an organisation and their career journey. Many companies are struggling to affect sustainable change with regards to women’s progression, even with multiple well-intended initiatives aimed at supporting women moving up […]
Why diverse groups help leaders avoid complacency
When it comes to truly embracing diversity, one of the first and most stubborn of obstacles is our own bias. If you have a brain, you are biased. It’s an uncomfortable truth: our brains lead us to bias. They are brilliant in many ways but we are confronted with tens of thousands of decisions every […]
What’s next for disability and technology in the modern workplace?
Technology is advancing at lightning speed. But are HR managers and those involved in the recruitment and career advancement process taking advantage of the benefits that this may bring with regard to disabled talent? The role that technology plays in the workplace in the UK cannot be overestimated and this is a massive opportunity for […]
Want to remain competitive? Think about diversity
There are many factors that affect a company’s profit, but diversity may not be the one that springs to mind. Business leaders are seeking out different ways to achieve a diverse and inclusive workforce. It’s fair, it’s the right thing to do and it’s better for company culture. But, there’s strong evidence to suggest that […]
How companies must approach sexual harassment in 2018
There’s so much rich insight coming out of the academic sector that HR professionals need to know. At Academics’ Corner we feature the best HR researchers that tell you what they’ve found and what you need to do differently on the back of the research. Get connected to the academic sector through Academics’ Corner and […]
The role of politics in inclusion
Whilst many of us are slightly dismayed at the current lack of unity and leadership in politics, there is something to be proud of. The UK has the most diverse parliament ever, and it’s actually something that we are world leaders at. There are 650 MPs in Westminster and it’s been a long time since […]
How compliance standards help organisations attract and retain talent
Have you ever considered the role that corporate compliance standards play in attracting new talent, as well as retaining current employees? At first glance, this may seem like an odd question. Compliance programmes are hardly the first thing employees look for when exploring a new job opportunity. After all, isn’t compliance just about following the […]
Will 2018 be the year for multi-generational flexible benefits?
There can be no doubt that today’s workforce looks and works differently to that of just 10 years ago. For instance, we’ve seen a dramatic increase in workers over 65 remaining in employment – from 5.5% in 1992 to 10% in 2016 – and are now seeing up to four generations in the workplace. From […]
Onboarding for empowerment: how to create a diverse, thriving workforce from day 1
Fun fact: companies that rank in the top quartile for ethnic and cultural diversity are 35% more likely to produce above-average profits when compared to organisations with low diversity. And organisations that are gender diverse are 15% more likely to be profitable. Even funner fact: several studies have demonstrated that diverse workforces lead to better […]
Women still await their seat at the law firm partnership table
Joanne Losty, recruitment director and part of the executive team at Excello Law, explores the extent to which gender inequality at a senior level continues to permeate through the law sector, and the critical need for cultural change in order to tackle this. Women in law firms will not achieve parity with men at a […]
“When I was told that I would never walk or talk again it put fire in my belly.”
In the BBC 2 series Employable Me, a programme that follows people with disabilities as they attempt to find work, Speakers Corner opens up a public speaking career for disabled businessman Andy Ibbott. Below, HRZone speaks to Andy about his inspirational journey to recovery and reemployment, and with Managing Director of Speakers Corner Nick Gold […]
How HR can help close the gender savings gap
Despite the 1970 Equal Pay Act and 2010 Equality Act, women today still earn about 10% less per hour than men. Policy is changing, driven by years of activism, enlightenment and regulatory changes, including the April 2018 mandate on gender pay gap reporting, but progress is slow. The pay gap is the red flag at the […]
How to achieve diversity through fair assessment
Aspiring to achieve a diverse workforce, which reflects the diversity of the population, is a worthy goal. However, positively discriminating by recruiting individuals from selected groups to achieve diversity targets is illegal and unfair. Instead, today’s employers should aim to attract a diverse range of applicants and ensure that every person has an equal chance […]
How to tackle workplace discrimination against people with cancer
For those going through an illness such as cancer, discrimination can unfortunately be a very real and stressful part of their experience. This is despite the fact that if you have or have had cancer, you are protected by law from unfair treatment at work. Research from Macmillan Cancer Support, exploring the impact of cancer […]
Thinking differently: neurodiversity can help companies thrive
Nancy Doyle is a Chartered Psychologist and CEO of Genius Within, a social enterprise that supports neurodiverse people with finding employment and helps companies access this untapped talent. She has recently worked with the BBC to create and deliver the TV series Employable Me 2. Not all great minds think alike. Making neurodiversity part of […]
Quarter of women “forced to take time off due to period pain.”
A recent UK study of 2,000 British women has revealed how much periods are affecting women during their daily lives, particularly in the workplace. New research by Bupa reveals over a third of women (36%) lie when justifying missing work and often disguise period pain as a stomach bug, having the flu or a cold. […]
Don’t go with your gut: overcoming unconscious bias in hiring decisions
Years ago, a friend of mine, Helen, went for a job interview. It was for a Swiss arts and cultural organisation, and Helen was half Swiss and could speak German reasonably well. She got the job. But she realised that the job wasn’t for her (it didn’t really match her interests), and she told the […]
Why hiring for cultural fit is holding back your company
Many organisations believe in hiring for cultural fit, following a methodology and thought process where ‘fit’ relates to a strong alignment to the company values and where an employee can come in and work collaboratively. For these organisations, cultural fit works just fine. But ‘fit’ also has a connotation to it, implying that somebody should […]
“LGBT people still get a raw deal.”
Mercer’s UK & Ireland HR Director and Board Member, Dr Siobhan Martin, has made the Top 100 OUTstanding Leading LGBT+ Executives List for the fourth year running, this year making it into the Top 10. She was nominated for her continuous efforts around ensuring Mercer is an inclusive company and her activism for equal rights […]