A new publication from the Government Equalities Office (GEO), Gender equality at every stage: a roadmap for change looks at the key causes of gender inequality and the ways in which the Government seeks to combat them.
The document identifies the need to strengthen equality legislation, close the gender pay gap, and review the shared parental leave and pay scheme, examines employment rights for carers and looks at the need to equalise pensions.
A major part of the drive to strengthen equality legislation is a consultation on sexual harassment in the workplace. Split between a set of quick and easy questions directed mainly at the general public and a technical document aimed principally at organisations, it seeks views on whether employers should be mandated to protect workers, or risk financial penalty, through legislation enforceable by individuals and the Equality Human Rights Commission (EHRC). It looks at the law on third party (i.e. people outside an organisation) harassment, questions the extent to which volunteers and interns are adequately protected by the Equality Act, considers extending the three-month time limit for Tribunal claims and examines possible non-legislative interventions.
Work on a statutory Code of Practice on sexual harassment at work is proceeding and there will be a separate consultation on this. The basis will be technical guidance from the EHRC to be released later this year.
In addition the Government wishes to see a review of the enforcement of equal pay legislation, together with a General Equality Monitor and a collaborative taskforce to tackle pregnancy and maternity discrimination.
There will be a review of reporting metrics on the Gender Pay Gap to judge their effectiveness and question how they might be improved, and a national campaign to enable employers to help their employees balance work and care whilst still being enabled to progress. Shared parental leave and pay schemes are under review at present, and there is a recognition of the need for organisations’ policies on this to be clearer. Likewise it is recognised that job adverts need to make the possibility of flexible working clearer.
Further steps will be taken to tackle the private pensions gap and, although it has not given a time-frame, the Government has also confirmed that there will be a consultation on a new right to carers’ leave.
