Gender Matters roundtable paints stark picture for women in the UK

On Tuesday 28 March 2023, The Work Foundation, Lancaster University Academy for Gender, Work and Leadership and Diversity UK hosted a 'Gender Matters' roundtable led by Baroness Sandeep Verma. The purpose of the roundtable discussion was to gather lived experience and expert insight on challenges around gender equality at work in 2023, discuss different approaches and identify best practice and agree on common areas of agreement for further discussions with policy-makers, academics and support organisations.

Gender equality at work – where we are and where we are going?

Organisations put gender equality and inclusivity high on their agenda yet, despite this attention, women are more likely to be employed in severely insecure work and continue to be under-represented in positions of power in organisations. The Covid-19 pandemic has changed the shape of the labour market and the cost of living is impacting workers across the UK, but has this altered existing inequalities between women and men in the workplace? The Gender Matters 2022 report highlighted that the Covid-19 pandemic appears to have interrupted progress in decreasing the gender pay gap and that women are just 8% of FTSE 100 CEOs.

The figures paint a stark picture for women in work in the UK, but it is exacerbated for women from ethnic minority backgrounds who are more likely to be discriminated against and many report they are more likely to be passed over for promotion.

Baroness Sandy Verma discussed the findings 'Gender Matters' research project with insights from Baroness Kishwer Falkner, Chair, Equality and Human Rights Commission; Sinead Casey, Partner, Linklaters LLP; Lopa Patel MBE, Chair, Diversity UK; Pavita Cooper, Founder, More Difference & Vice Chair, 30% Club; Rebecca Florisson, Principal Analyst, Work Foundation; Ben Harrison, Director, Work Foundation; Helen Lamprell OBE, General Counsel and Company Secretary, AVEVA Group plc; Jemima Olchawski, Chief Executive, Fawcett Society; Dr Lara Precis, Lecturer in Organisation Studies, Lancaster University; Valerie Stead, Professor in Leadership and Management, Lancaster University and Jon Fitzmaurice, Head of Engagement, Work Foundation.