C2E: Employers continue to discriminate
 

29th September 2005

1.1M Employers continue to discriminate

New figures released by c2e today show that despite large UK companies declaring that they have robust equality policies, 77% of them have little or no equality practice. It is even worse in small companies where 97.5% of them have no equality practice in place. It is astonishing to realise that 16 million employees work for businesses that have no equality practice. Current research demonstrates that there is a direct link between a business’s equality practices and the number of employees from disadvantaged groups.

There are 3.5 million people in the country who are looking for work, that’s 1 in 10 people of working age. Those most discriminated against are the 650 thousand individuals from ethnic minorities, 800 thousand disabled and 450 thousand single parents who are looking for a job. It is twice as difficult for these people to find employment.

Businesses have an important part to play in creating a fairer society but the latest estimates suggest that more than 1.1 million employers could be discriminating in the way that they select and hire new employees. Many businesses skirt around equality issues or have no processes in place. The benefits of operating a well thought out equality policy include more customers, more profits, increased worth of the business, an expanded labour pool, better business performance, a better supply chain and avoiding the cost of bad practice.

Of equal significance, Public Bodies, who have a statutory obligation to promote equality, are also failing. In a related survey, none of the local authorities who replied to a questionnaire either ask or assess if any their 600,000 suppliers, have equality practices in place, after they contracts are awarded.

Janet Lakhani, CEO of c2e said today “Government already has the power to tackle this, but it needs to get its act together – many disadvantaged individuals are willing to work - what is needed are businesses willing to employ.” Janet was talking at the launch of the c2e strategy, which has been sent to Cabinet Ministers ahead of Parliament recommencing.

Janet Lakhani, CEO is available between 9.00am and 11.00am on Friday 30th September to answer questions

01629-706582 or 07759-150-395
janet@c2e.co.uk
www.c2e.co.uk

Note for Editor
C2e (Committed2Equality) helps organisations to navigate through the maze of equality regulations, statutory requirements and plethora of advice on the equalities.