News: Contract Law
Equality training: Staff need educating on discrimination
27 April 2009
Almost two-thirds of firms have not reviewed the gender pay gaps in their company and staff may need training on discrimination, a new report finds.
A survey from law firm DLA Piper discovered that the suggested equality bill may not solve unfairness in the workplace, with more than half of human resources professionals admitting women and minorities are underrepresented in their company.
The 147 representatives questioned in the Equality Bill: Justice for All? report showed increased equality training may be needed to avoid a lawsuit.
Sandra Wallace, employment law partner at DLA Piper, says: "The chances that managers could misapply positive discrimination could lead to disgruntled candidates suing and this may strongly discourage many organisations from applying it."
She adds that employers need to ensure all staff understand positive discrimination to avoid tension in the workplace.
However, Ms Wallace says equality auditing, as suggested in the equality bill, will be costly and an "unwelcome surprise" to businesses in the recession.
The new bill will be released later today, with equalities minister Harriet Harman saying she wants to put an end to women earning around 20 per cent less than men.
