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Jun 29 2022

Constructing Rainbows - Male engagement in gender equality, pay gaps and menstrual leave

Inclusion update for the Built Environment industry
Newsletter 28: Male engagement in gender equality, pay gaps and menstrual leave
Constructing Rainbows advises built environment organisations who have an aim of making our industry inclusive for all. To find out more visit www.constructingrainbows.co.uk
This newsletter will provide you with some updates on what others are doing, both within the built environment and in other industries.
Mates in Mind published their findings from their major study of the mental health of self-employed construction workers and those working in small firms which showed that intense workloads, financial problems, poor work-life balance and Covid-19 pressures on the supply of materials are combining to significantly raise stress and anxiety levels. 
University College London apologises for school's 'boys' club' culture - BBC News

A report finds there was a "toxic" environment at University College London's architecture school.
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For Pride Month, Fiona Connor shares her thoughts on what we can do to support LGBTQ+ colleagues in construction
POWERful Women | Step change needed on gender diversity at the top of the UK energy sector New statistics reveal slow progress towards targets for women
Annual data released by POWERful Women and PwC reveals that representation of women in senior roles in the top c.80 largest UK energy employers has made little progress in the past 12 months. 
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Many US companies move to pay travel costs for employees seeking abortions
With the horrific news coming from the US of the Supreme Court ruling on Roe v Wade, and the subsequent outlawing of abortions in some states, some companies have stepped up to support their colleagues with travel expenses if they need to travel to another state for this critical healthcare.
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Women of colour: six in 10 feel need to hide identity at work

Women of colour feel forced to change their behaviour and even their names because they face structural racism in the workplace.
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A government decision not to extend pay gap reporting to racial disparities has been criticised by MPs. Thankfully many in our industry are pressing ahead and releasing data voluntarily, demonstrating transparency and with a roadmap to close the gap.
The link between imposter syndrome and burnout - BBC Worklife
Feeling like you’re bad at your job is miserable. Worse, it’s also more likely to lead to professional burnout.

And we know imposter syndrome affects those from underrepresented groups in greater numbers.
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The FCA has finalised rules requiring listed companies to report information and disclose against targets on the representation of women and ethnic minorities on their boards and executive management, making it easier for investors to see the diversity of their senior leadership teams.
UK charities call for menstrual leave for severe pain - BBC News
It comes after a draft bill was approved in Spanish parliament to allow three days of leave a month. Some UK businesses are starting to include this in their leave policies recognising the severe pain that some women, non-binary people and transmen face every month.
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The cost of living crisis is causing many financial hardship, we know that those from underrepresented groups are often in the lower pay grades. Some businesses are increasing wages in line with inflation, others are still paying below Real Living Wage.
6 Evidence-Based Strategies for Improving Diversity in Your Organization
These strategies come up time and time again, but companies have to commit time and resource to embed them like any other organisational goal.
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Better Together: Increasing Male Engagement in Gender Equality Efforts in Australia | Bain & Company

Given their predominance in leadership positions, it is critical to ensure that men have an equal stake in gender parity.

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EFL: Clubs to 'mix and match' kits to aid colour blindness - BBC Sport

Home teams can now play in their away kits where there is a colour clash to help people who are colour blind, the English Football League says.
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HR Magazine - Job adverts with four-day week up 90%

As thousands of workers from 70 UK firms embark on an experiment to test the benefits of four-day week, job ads for this type of arrangement have surged.
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How to Manage a Multi-Generational Team
"While Gerhardt said that we should avoid making assumptions about people based solely on their age, there is value in educating ourselves on the realities different generations have faced throughout their careers."

We have a multi-generational workforce, but how do we make sure that we respect each other and find a way of communicating that brings out the positives in all of us.
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Transgender hate crimes up 87% in Scotland - BBC News

There were also more charges aggravated by disability prejudice than towards religion for the first time.
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A Seat at the Table Is Not Enough

Corporate boards are more diverse than ever before. So why aren’t firms seeing the expected results?
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New ACE campaign promotes inclusivity to drive industry succes

Building Inclusivity will explore the creation of welcoming workplaces for LGBTQ+, Neurodivergent and Ethnic Minority communities and help businesses seize the opportunities that welcoming workplaces for all bring.
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Listen to episode 14 of the Beyond 1% Podcast - Sir Robert McAlpine
On the occasion of International Women in Engineering Day, SRM speaks to some female engineers who discuss a range of topics aligning with the theme: ‘Inventors and Innovators’.
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