A series of measures to tackle ethnic disparities in the workplace has been announced by Prime Minister Theresa May – exactly one year after the government published the findings of a world-first Race Disparity Audit on how people of different ethnic backgrounds are treated across society. Developed jointly by the government and Business in the Community (BITC), the new Race at Work Charter announced by the Prime Minister will commit businesses to a bold set of principles and actions designed to drive forward a step-change in the recruitment... Continue reading

The Information Commissioner’s Office (ICO) has fined Facebook £500,000 for serious breaches of data protection law. In July, the ICO issued a Notice of Intent to fine Facebook as part of a wide-ranging investigation into the use of data analytics for political purposes. After considering representations from the company, the ICO has issued the fine to Facebook and confirmed that the amount – the maximum allowable under the laws which applied at the time the incidents occurred – will remain unchanged. The full penalty notice can be rea... Continue reading

The Home Office is writing directly to chief executives of 17,000 businesses, telling them to open up about modern slavery in their supply chains, or risk being named as in breach of the law. Businesses with a turnover of more than £36m must publish annual transparency statements, known as a Modern Slavery Statement, setting out what they are doing to stop modern slavery and forced labour practices occurring in their business and supply chains. At the moment, it is estimated that 60% of companies in scope have published a statement. Whilst t... Continue reading

Nearly two-thirds (61%) of women would take an organisation's gender pay gap into consideration when applying for a job, a new survey from the Equality and Human Rights Commission reveals. The poll, commissioned to understand the impact of the gender pay gap on staff motivation and behaviour, also shows that 58% of women would be less likely to recommend their present employer as a place to work if they had a gender pay gap, and half of women say that a gender pay gap would reduce their motivation in their role and their commitment to their e... Continue reading

Shocking statistics reveal that the UK’s asbestos safety regulations and preventative measures fall short compared to other European countries who have less of an asbestos problem. In the latest white paper from Charles Pickles MSc, BSc CCP (asbestos) of Lucion Services, Why The UK Needs Tighter Asbestos Controls, statistics demonstrate that the UK’s current asbestos regulations enforced by the HSE are decades behind that of other European countries.  What’s the issue? The level of asbestos contamination (HSE clearance indicator) used... Continue reading