PARLIAMENTARY WRITTEN QUESTION
Employment: Discrimination (30 June 2015)

To ask the Minister for Women and Equalities, what representations the Government has made to employers on the introduction of company policies to tackle sexism at work and the use of staff representatives with whom employees can raise such issues.

Asked by:
Alison McGovern (Labour)

Government established Think, Act, Report in 2011 to provide a simple, step by step framework for companies to build gender equality into their business planning, particularly in relation to recruitment, retention, promotion and pay. Now over 280 businesses, collectively employing well over 2.5 million employees are signed up, providing a powerful community of best practice who are leading the way on gender equality in the workplace. To further champion gender equality in the workplace, Government set up the Women’s Business Council in 2012, which is delivering a wide range of programmes to tackle discrimination and drive culture change through industry-led solutions to support the advancement of women. Staff representatives play a vital role in supporting their colleagues to address unacceptable attitudes and practices. Acas (the Advisory, Conciliation and Arbitration Service) has published guidance for employers on ‘Trade Union Representation in the Workplace’ which is available online at:

http://www.acas.org.uk/media/pdf/4/8/Trade-Union-Representation-in-the-Workplace-accessible-version.pdf

Answered by:
Dame Caroline Dinenage (Conservative)
8 July 2015