This month the word ‘banter’ was yet again the subject of a tribunal claim. In Allay (UK) Ltd v Gehlen the EAT rejected the employers defence that they had taken reasonable steps to prevent racial harassment, despite having provided equality and diversity training two years prior. The basis for the decision was: Just because training…

Dignity at work is the title of our flagship training programme at Vista. But what does dignity at work really mean? In order to feel valued and included at work, we first need to feel respect from and for the people that we work with. Both our human values and the legal framework expect that…

What is the secret formula for being great at diversity in the workplace? Well if we are being honest there isn’t a one size fits all, but here’s a positive starting point. We should say, if you want us to talk about the reasons why you should aspire to be an inclusive and diverse organisation,…

Many employers are worried that they don’t know enough about autism or that they may struggle to make adjustments to support an employee. It’s important to bear in mind that autism affects individuals in very different ways and covers a wide range of challenges and needs, some of which may be relatively straightforward and others…

The theme of International Women’s Day 2019 is Gender Balance. What does this mean to women in the workplace? It might be achieving a better balance of women in senior roles, that women feel they are treated in a more balanced way at work, or that they feel more balance in their working lives. We’ve…

Hands up everyone who has a maternity policy? A paternity leave policy? An adoption policy? A shared parental leave policy? It’s good to take the time to ensure that your employees know what they can expect when they are starting, or thinking about starting, a family. Even if your policy is to go no further…

This time in 2018 many organisations were wrestling with identifying the right data, the calculations and the narrative for their first gender pay report. Most of the focus was on compliance and explanation. This time round many people are seeing it as more of an opportunity, part of developing more inclusive practices and engaging with…

It’s well understood that achieving respect in the workplace is everyone’s job. It’s also the case that people don’t recognise that the impact of behaviour can be different to their intention. This is at the heart of why communications and training about a respectful workplace can be challenging. Our people think ‘I’m not sexist, racist…

We’re human, we all have unconscious biases that play a huge role in the decisions we make day in, day out, at home or at work. When these biases rear their head in the workplace, the impact on recruitment, team members’ progression, management decisions, culture and ultimately the bottom line are not to be ignored.…

51% of trans people have hidden their gender identity at work for fear of discrimination. This is a headline from this year’s Trans Report for Stonewall, despite the legislation in place to protect trans people in the Equality Act 2010 and The Gender Recognition Act 2004 and at a time when organisations are talking constantly…