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"Economic recession must not lead to social recession - diversity in the workplace is core to business growth."

4 March 2009

Embracing a new era of diversity and equality at work was hailed as crucial for businesses hoping to emerge fitter and healthier after the recession, at The Employers Forum on Age (EFA) and The Employers Forum on Belief (EFB) 'One Size doesn't fit all' conference which took place last week. Keynote speaker Trevor Philips, Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission, made a strong call to business to prevent the economic recession becoming a social recession.

Catharine Pusey, Director of The Employers Forum on Age commented, "It is vital that the fallout of the current economic turmoil does not lead to us back to a time in which values of diversity and fairness are put aside as businesses focus solely on short term economic recovery. Organisations need to take a long term view on growth and restructure, as the post-recession working environment is being reshaped. An ageing population, alongside an increasingly multicultural society, must be recognized and reflected within the workplace." The Chair of the Equality and Human Rights Commission Trevor Phillips commented, "Flexible working isn't a business cost, it's a business opportunity. It brings a keener focus on output over process, and it responds to the increasingly diverse customer demand of today's 24/7 global economy." He continued "Diversity in the workplace is core to business growth. We cannot afford to stand still, even when faced with significant challenges - the Equality Bill and current climate present a real opportunity for change."

The EFA believes that as many employers face redundancies and budget cuts, the importance of understanding the legality of any actions they take has never been more crucial. Catharine continues, "Selecting workers for redundancy on grounds which cannot be objectively justified can lead to lengthy and expensive court battles, and have a negative effect on productivity and morale. This situation can easily be avoided by adhering to best practice delivering fairness for all."

The conference was well attended by representatives from leading employers. The lunch was an opportunity to celebrate the work of forward thinking employers with the annual EFA Awards. These were presented by Dame Joan Bakewell, Voice of Older People, who was introduced by EFA Patron Lord Stevenson of Coddenham.

Commenting on the controversial default retirement age, Dame Joan Bakewell said: "As age diversity is the objective, changes in working and retirement patterns are inevitable. We live in shifting and critical times, therefore waiting until 2011, for the Government to review this provision, is simply too long for those who are facing these issues now. The legislation surrounding the Default Retirement Age is too complicated, not satisfactory and urgently needs updating."

Catharine Pusey concluded, "The conference was a fantastic success and highlighted the opportunities for change in today's workplace. As we work through the recession, we must all aim for changes in workplace structures to reflect social changes, leading to a fairer and more diverse working environment for all."


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