Meg Munn MP opened the debate, highlighting the real progress made in women's equality but arguing that it "is in the boardroom that we are let down". She stressed the importance of challenging attitudes to help achieve greater flexibility and diversity.
Abbas Jaffer, Head of European Diversity at Morgan Stanley, explained the bank’s powerful business case for supporting the progression of its female managers through the company. Emphasising the importance of advocacy and commitment from senior management, he highlighted a range of initiatives including a mentoring programme with senior leaders and a ‘Career Management Tracker’ to help identify relevant development opportunities.
Jenny Watson, Chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission (EOC), challenged employers to do more to meet employee demand for more flexible work patterns such as compressed working weeks. Calling on the Government to extend the right to request flexible working to all employees, she suggested that employers must also increase the number of quality roles advertised as suitable for flexible working. Jenny also looked ahead to the start of October 2007 when the EOC’s functions will be taken on by the new Commission for Equalities and Human Rights (CEHR). The new Commission will provide a single point of contact for employers and should enable a more joined-up approach to tackling discrimination.
Meeting notes are available to download here.
