Tracy Walters Head of Diversity Brent Council September 14th 2006 Telephone: [phone] Email: tr

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Tracy WaltersHead of DiversityBrent
CouncilSeptember 14th 2006Telephone 020
8937 1117Email tracy.walters_at_brent.gov.uk
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Background

• Brent, a borough of contrasts
• A majority Black and Minority Ethnic Population
• Employing over 5,000 people
• Over 40 of staff live in the borough
• Almost two thirds of staff are women

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Promoting Gender Equality - The Context in 2001

• Legacy of Brent as bent, barmy and broke
• Women made up just 30 of senior officers
• Turnover was running at 24
• Sickness absence averaged 13 days per person per
  year
• Tribunal claims and the CRE

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Measures we introduced

• Workforce monitoring and action plans (2001)
• Targeted recruitment (2001)
• Making high level and visible appointments (2001)
• Launch of Confidential Harassment Advisory Scheme
  and policy on bullying at work (2001)
• Staff attitude survey (2002)
• Membership of Opportunity Now (2002)
• Gender Equality Champion (2002)

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• Work-life Balance Project (2002)
• Launched Womens Staff Forum (2002)
• International Womens Day (2004)
• Launched LGBT Staff Forum (2004)
• Celebrated LGBT History Month (2005)
• Staff booklet on Sexuality (2005)
• Parents and Carers Network (2006)

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Overcoming Resistance

• Ownership by the top team
• Promoting the benefits to managers
• Linking gender equality targets to council
  performance
• Media interest, publicity and awards
• Making a difference to the bottom line

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Role of elected Members

• Leader of the council
• Executive committee
• Support for International Womens Day
• Opportunity Now events

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The Business Benefits

• Turnover down to 8 this year
• Sickness absence down to 7 days per person this
  year
• Increase of women in senior posts from 30 to 48
• 76 of staff say they can work flexibly when they
  need to
• Increase in part-time staff, up 5 in two years
• Tribunal claims dramatically cut

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Other outcomes

• Commended by the Audit Commission for our
  approach to Workplace Harassment
• Shortlisted for an Opportunity Now award in 2004
• Commended by Working Families in 2004
• Part of a Gender Appreciative Enquiry
• Won Employee Benefits of the Year award in 2005
• Launched the new public duty on Gender Equality
  2005
• National press and publicity

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What Next?

• Focus on more junior graded women staff
• Preparing for the Work and Families Act
• Researching mixed sex teams and groups
• Focussing on developing Gender Equality Scheme