Businesses hurt by discrimination
Almost 30 years since the Sex Discrimination Act was passed, women are still massively under-represented in positions of influence in Britain.
Excluding women from senior positions means that businesses are missing out on talent and relying on a narrow range of experiences to make decisions. The quality of decision-making suffers without the input of people with a range of experiences. Research shows that having women on the board has a positive impact on the performance of failing companies — so it goes against good business sense to exclude or undermine them once their work has helped a business to recover.
If women are appointed to the boards of underperforming companies, rather than being given equal access to senior positions in successful companies (The Times, Sept 7), this leaves able and ambitious women in an impossible position and wastes valuable skills and experiences that UK plc badly needs. Companies need to examine recruitment, selection and promotion procedures to check that they are rigorous, fair and transparent.
Julie Mellor, chair of the Equal Opportunities Commission, London
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Companies should take pensions seriously
THE pensions crisis shows the need for the Government to take radical action, honouring the party’s historic commitment to look after people “from the cradle to the grave” (The Times, Sept 7). Even the most careful savers are seeing their retirement income plummet. Voluntarism has failed. Labour must urgently address the needs of workers in retirement. Only decent contributions from companies compelled to take pension provision seriously will help to close the £27 billion savings gap.
Debbie Coulter, deputy general secretary, GMB
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