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The Mayor of London has called on the Government to begin a ‘wholesale’ review of workplace policies, across Government bodies, to ensure they are inclusive of and supportive to women at every stage of their careers.
Sadiq Khan has called for all public organisations to ensure the physical health and safety of their women employees are made key priorities and considered alongside more high-profile concerns such as access to flexible working and underrepresentation at senior levels.
In a letter to the Secretary of State for Work and Pensions Mel Stride, Khan has urged the Government to ensure taxpayer-funded Government bodies are taking their responsibilities to women colleagues seriously and are inclusive and supportive at every level. He said that for too long they have struggled to reflect the breadth of backgrounds and experiences which exist in their communities, including those of women.
He encouraged public organisations to “follow City Hall’s lead” in making provisions for people experiencing severe gynaecological pain and urged these bodies to offer robust support to victims of domestic violence both practically and pastorally so that no one has to ‘suffer in silence’. This includes adopting City Hall’s sector-leading provision for colleagues fleeing domestic abuse which offers an interest-free loan of up to £10,000 to help rebuild their lives.
The Mayor has called for taxpayer-funded Government bodies to commit to the following:
- Robust provision for colleagues who are victims of domestic abuse.
- A strengthening of sickness and absence policies to ensure that debilitating gynaecological pain is affirmed as grounds for reasonable adjustment or leave.
- A clear strategy for the development of women into positions of leadership in order to generate a pipeline of talent.
- The implementation of a comprehensive policy to support colleagues during the menopause and perimenopause.
- Consideration of the experiences of women and the potential impact on women ahead of major policy changes.
Committed to ensuring women are fully supported at work, Khan has made commitments to reporting on the gender pay gap, furthering equality and improving diversity central tenets of his flagship workplace accreditation – the Good Work Standard – with which more than 115 London organisations are now accredited. The London Recovery Board have further encouraged organisations across London to improve representation in the workplace and promote employment rights through the Building a Fairer City Plan.
Since 2016, the Mayor has overhauled City Hall’s workplace offering to better support women at all stages and backgrounds. This has included the provision of sector-leading support for colleagues who are experiencing domestic violence, tailored training to enable career progression through the leadership programme Our Time, the development of a world-leading menopause policy, enhanced caring, adoptive and shared parental leave, the introduction of premature and neonatal baby leave and significant progress toward the elimination of the gender pay gap. City Hall has also led the way in breaking workplace taboos and supporting Londoners experiencing period poverty through the provision of free menstrual hygiene products onsite.
The Mayor of London, Sadiq Khan said: “The pandemic and the cost of living crisis have shone a light on gaping inequalities in our society and it simply isn’t right that, in 2023, women continue to face significant barriers in accessing housing, employment and skills.
“As Mayor of this great city and as a proud feminist, I refuse to accept gender-based injustice as inevitable. It is vital that all public bodies are safe havens for women and must lead by example in offering women the best possible place to work.
“Too often the experiences of women have been an afterthought in shaping policy, but I am committed to ensuring that they will be front and centre as we work to build a fairer, safer and more prosperous London for everyone.”
With the current economic crisis resulting in higher prices and more of a squeeze on resources, FMs need to ensure that they have robust building and maintenance services in place to control costs and reduce the need for emergency repairs. When it comes to drainage and plumbing there are also the challenges of dealing with extreme weather, from droughts to flooding, the need to meet stringent regulations and to avoid causing environmental damage.
UK drainage specialist, Metro Rod, has launched a survey which explores the main areas of interest for FMs in maintaining drainage and plumbing, including how they currently assess their supply chains to ensure they’re working with partners that meet the highest possible standards and provide value for money.
The results will be published online so that you can see how you compare to others within the sector.
The survey should take just 5-10 minutes of your time, and as a thank you, you will be entered into a prize draw, where one lucky winner will be picked at random to receive a £100 Amazon voucher.
To take part click here.
