Equality Act

Sexism permeates every layer of the music industry – new report echoes what research has been saying for years

Retrieved on:

Monday, February 5, 2024

The cross-party inquiry heard evidence from a wide range of witnesses connected to the music industry.

Key Points:

The cross-party inquiry heard evidence from a wide range of witnesses connected to the music industry.
This report follows a raft of recent investigations into discrimination within the music industry.

A culture of discrimination

It found that 66% had experienced some form of discrimination and 78% of that discrimination was committed against women.
Of the discrimination, 58% was identified as sexual harassment, with 76% of workers within studio or live music event settings having experienced discrimination.

Further problems for the industry

Although representation of women has increased in recent years, men still dominate leadership roles.
Although many of these historical restrictions have evaporated, they linger on in the present day for the drums, bass guitar and brass.

Many of those working within it are self-employed, working on precarious contracts which often involve antisocial hours without the same protections as those working for companies.
The sexualised reception and constant scrutiny in media and social media endured by women within the music industry is exhausting, threatening and degrading.

Recommendations from the report

The report includes 34 recommendations.
It also asks for an amendment to section 14 of the Equality Act “to improve protections for people facing intersectional inequality”.
What’s clear from the report is that the behaviour of men lies at the heart of these issues.

Looking for something good? Cut through the noise with a carefully curated selection of the latest releases, live events and exhibitions, straight to your inbox every fortnight, on Fridays. Sign up here.
Laura Hamer receives funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council.

Affirmative action policies to increase diversity are successful, but controversial, around the world

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, January 30, 2024

Student, Equality Act, University, Research, Employment, Heart, Systematic review, History, Government, Language, Movement, Politics, Private sector, Public sector, Public opinion, Literature, Data, Education, Riot

Race-conscious admissions policies at American universities have a history that goes back to the 1960s civil rights movement.

Key Points:

Race-conscious admissions policies at American universities have a history that goes back to the 1960s civil rights movement.
These policies aimed to increase the number of students from underrepresented groups and build more racially diverse student populations.
Affirmative action policies can include “soft” measures designed to increase minority representation in a candidate pool.

Differences around the world

In Great Britain, employers are allowed to take positive action that may involve “treating one group that shares a protected characteristic more favourably than others”.
Positive discrimination, such as hiring a less-qualified candidate because she is from an underrepresented group, is prohibited under the Equality Act.
This system “reserves” spots in government employment, governing bodies, and educational admissions for “scheduled castes and tribes” and other marginalised groups.
In India, faced with similar court rulings, a series of constitutional amendments have preserved reservations.

Does affirmative action work?

We found that 63% of the 194 studies we reviewed concluded that affirmative action programmes indeed served to improve outcomes for ethnic, religious or racial minorities.
In over half of the countries we studied, national protests and civic action emerged in support of or against the conduct of affirmative action policies.
And almost one in five saw violent incidents or riots directly linked to the introduction and implementation of affirmative action policies.
This suggests that the way forward may be to pursue soft over hard affirmative action measures – encouraging diversity without implementing quotas.

Rachel M Gisselquist receives funding from UNU-WIDER. Min J. Kim is a Visiting Assistant Professor at George Washington University.

IKEA U.S. announces plans to open four new-format stores in 2024 and shares progress made in FY23

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, January 17, 2024

Equality Act, Legislation, Heart, Health, Social justice, Domain, Happiness, IKEA, Annual, Stop, Growth, Pick, Reseller, EV, Plan, Automation, Marriage, Buyback, Publishing

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, alongside the release of the 2023 Annual Summary, IKEA U.S. announced that four Plan & order point with Pick-up locations will open across the country in 2024. The Annual Summary shares strides the company made in affordability, sustainable practices, automation, and equity and inclusion; and these strategic expansions showcase how IKEA remains committed to making the brand more accessible, convenient and affordable for the many.

Key Points:

CONSHOHOCKEN, Pa., Jan. 17, 2024 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, alongside the release of the 2023 Annual Summary, IKEA U.S. announced that four Plan & order point with Pick-up locations will open across the country in 2024.
With the addition of the IKEA Pick-up point, customers will be able to collect their purchases when and where it's convenient for them.
In addition to new locations announced today, IKEA U.S. will open Plan & order points with Pick-up in Annapolis and Gaithersburg, Maryland, Katy, Texas and more.
View the full IKEA U.S. FY23 Annual Summary here for more details on how IKEA is creating a better everyday life for the many.

Martin Searle Solicitors launch their new campaign "Menopause Matters" in January 2024 to stamp out Menopause Discrimination in the Workplace

Retrieved on:

Friday, January 5, 2024

Policy, Employment, Labour law, Equality Act, Multimedia, Woman, Menopause, Organic, Saint Andrew's Society, Fawcett Society

BRIGHTON, UK, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In January 2024, Martin Searle Solicitors' Employment Law Team are launching "Menopause Matters", their new campaign to raise awareness and to stamp out menopause discrimination at work.

Key Points:

In January 2024, Martin Searle Solicitors' Employment Law Team are launching "Menopause Matters", their new campaign to raise awareness and to stamp out menopause discrimination at work.
BRIGHTON, UK, Jan. 5, 2024 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- In January 2024, Martin Searle Solicitors' Employment Law Team are launching "Menopause Matters", their new campaign to raise awareness and to stamp out menopause discrimination at work.
"We are a campaigning law firm and want to make menopause discrimination a thing of the past.
The Employment Law Team will also provide advice and assistance to menopausal employees and workers who are not adequately supported by their employer or who are experiencing menopause discrimination.

Fideres Study Finds that UK Energy Providers May Have Consistently Discriminated Against Protected Minorities For Over 10 Years

Retrieved on:

Thursday, December 14, 2023

Professional Services, Other Energy, Utilities, Other Professional Services, Energy, Consulting, Poverty, Equality Act 2010, Research, Equality Act, CMA, Fideres, PPM, Bookkeeping

This Christmas season, households across the UK will be hit with soaring energy bills as prices rise for the winter – but some will feel the pinch more than others.

Key Points:

This Christmas season, households across the UK will be hit with soaring energy bills as prices rise for the winter – but some will feel the pinch more than others.
Customers on a prepayment meter (PPM) historically paid £100-£270 per year more than the cheapest direct debit tariffs.
And unlike, the general population, most prepayment customers are either minority ethnic, a single parent, or disabled.
These protected groups consequently overpay £200 – £500 million per year without justification, for at least the past 10 years.

Discover Earns Top Score in Human Rights Campaign Foundation’s Corporate Equality Index Ten Years in a Row

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, December 5, 2023

For the tenth straight year, Discover has earned a perfect 100 score and is a recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion by the Human Rights Campaign’s Annual Corporate Equality Index, a benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.

Key Points:

For the tenth straight year, Discover has earned a perfect 100 score and is a recipient of the Equality 100 Award: Leader in LGBTQ+ Workplace Inclusion by the Human Rights Campaign’s Annual Corporate Equality Index, a benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.
Discover joins the ranks of more than 545 major U.S. businesses that also earned top marks this year.
Removing the lifetime cap of $75,000 on gender transition-related coverage for employees enrolled in a Discover medical plan.
For more information on the 2023 Corporate Equality Index, or to download a free copy of the report, visit www.hrc.org/cei .

Univar Solutions Recognized as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign Foundation

Retrieved on:

Wednesday, December 13, 2023

DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Dec. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Univar Solutions Inc. ("Univar Solutions" or "the Company"), a leading global solutions provider to users of specialty ingredients and chemicals, today announced it has been recognized as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, after achieving a score of 100 on the HRC Foundation's 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for the third consecutive year. The HRC Foundation's CEI, which Univar Solutions has participated in for the past four years, is the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.

Key Points:

Marks third consecutive year company earns top score in HRC Foundation's annual assessment of LGBTQ+ workplace equality.
DOWNERS GROVE, Ill., Dec. 13, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- Univar Solutions Inc. ("Univar Solutions" or "the Company"), a leading global solutions provider to users of specialty ingredients and chemicals, today announced it has been recognized as a Best Place to Work for LGBTQ+ Equality by the Human Rights Campaign (HRC) Foundation, after achieving a score of 100 on the HRC Foundation's 2023-2024 Corporate Equality Index (CEI) for the third consecutive year.
The HRC Foundation's CEI, which Univar Solutions has participated in for the past four years, is the nation's foremost benchmarking survey and report measuring corporate policies and practices related to LGBTQ+ workplace equality.
To learn more about Univar Solutions' commitments and core values, please visit its Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion page online.

Martin Searle Solicitors run their annual October 2023 campaign "Disability Matters" to stamp out Disability Discrimination in the Workplace

Retrieved on:

Monday, September 18, 2023

BRIGHTON, United Kingdom, Sept. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- This October, Martin Searle Solicitors' Employment Law team are launching 'Disability Matters', their annual campaign to stamp out disability discrimination at work. This campaign will concentrate on Chronic Fatigue Syndrome and other medical conditions such as Long Covid and Fibromyalgia, which can produce similar symptoms.

Key Points:

This October, Martin Searle Solicitors' Employment Law team are launching 'Disability Matters', their annual campaign to stamp out disability discrimination at work.
BRIGHTON, United Kingdom, Sept. 18, 2023 /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- This October, Martin Searle Solicitors ' Employment Law team are launching 'Disability Matters', their annual campaign to stamp out disability discrimination at work.
- Fiona Martin, Director and Head of Employment Law
Despite disability discrimination in the workplace being outlawed we are dealing with increasing numbers of employees experiencing discrimination.
Martin Searle Solicitors are providing a free 30 minute confidential advice line for employers and employees on disability rights and employer duties throughout October 2023.

Heartstopper: how this joyous teen show contrasts with my bitter memories of school life under homophobic law Section 28

Retrieved on:

Tuesday, August 29, 2023

For those who don’t know Heartstopper, it is Alice Osman’s Netflix adaptation of their boy-meets-boy graphic novel.

Key Points:

For those who don’t know Heartstopper, it is Alice Osman’s Netflix adaptation of their boy-meets-boy graphic novel.
Charlie (Joe Locke) and Nick (Kit Connor) and their LGBTQ+ friends come of age and fall in love at school.
This was because almost all my teaching career was spent under a law called Section 28.

Teaching under Section 28

In my book Pretended: Schools and Section 28, I describe the mandated homophobic silence that descended upon every school in Britain.
My research with other LGBTQ+ teachers shows that Section 28 profoundly affected those who experienced it.
My biggest regret as a teacher under Section 28 is that I could not be a positive role model for the young LGBTQ+ people I taught.
When Mr Ajayi finds romance himself with another male teacher, there is no hint of the fear or shame that eventually drove me and countless other LGBTQ+ teachers from careers in teaching.

Adult influence

The friends have compassion in abundance as they warmly embrace and accept their differences.
They show respect, sensitivity and empathy for each other as together they figure out who they are and who they love.
They are a nourishing presence in each other’s lives, cheering one other on and picking each other up when things don’t go to plan.
Since my own Section 28 diaries helped inspire the Bafta-nominated film Blue Jean, many of my former students have been in touch.

How citizens could help government with emergency decisions in the next pandemic

Retrieved on:

Monday, July 24, 2023

One of the key questions is who should make decisions in an emergency, and how.

Key Points:

One of the key questions is who should make decisions in an emergency, and how.
But as former chancellor George Osborne pointed out in his testimony to the inquiry, expert advice isn’t necessarily enough on its own.
She gave the example of the Welsh government using online platforms to consult with people with certain characteristics protected under the Equality Act.

Engaging the public

Deliberative democracy is the process of engaging a cross-section of the public in making decisions.
According to a 2022 government report, the decision to delay locking down was partly based on the “widespread view that the public would not accept a lockdown for a significant period”.
Members of the public largely complied with COVID restrictions, showing themselves willing to sacrifice some liberty in exchange for fewer lives lost to COVID.
Read more:
COVID: how incorrect assumptions and poor foresight hampered the UK's pandemic preparedness
There have been some public deliberations on COVID-related issues in the UK during the pandemic, led by academics, public sector bodies and independent research groups.

Diverse experiences and perspectives

A major benefit of engaging the public is the diverse experiences and perspectives they bring.
For example, a public deliberation on colorectal cancer screening recommendations revealed concerns around the lack of information available about different screening options.
Moving beyond expert voices can also help bring attention to the perspectives of marginalised communities who are often politically ignored.

Preparing for the next pandemic

These are the same three factors researchers at the OECD have identified as making a topic suitable for public deliberation.
And speed wouldn’t be a problem if structures are built for citizen participation in time for the next pandemic.
Doing so could empower citizens, improve public trust, revitalise British democracy, and prepare us for the next pandemic.