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Sexism in the City

17 May 2024 / Guy Micklewright
Issue: 8071 / Categories: Opinion , Bias , Discrimination , Employment , Human rights , Harassment
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Can industry culture in financial services be changed? Guy Micklewright looks at a variety of proposals

On 5 March 2024 the House of Commons Treasury Committee published its ‘Sexism in the City’ report, examining the gender inequality that pervades the financial services industry in the UK. This followed its ‘Women in finance’ report in June 2018, which expressed concern about a lack of gender diversity in financial services and made a number of recommendations. The latest report has found that ‘many of the barriers identified in 2018 remain stubbornly in place’. The committee continues to be concerned that the gender pay gap in financial services remains the largest in any sector in the UK economy; that many firms still treat diversity and inclusion as a ‘tick box’ exercise rather than a core business priority; and that maternity remains a significant barrier to progress for women in financial services.

Sexual misconduct, harassment & bullying

However, one area that was not examined in 2018 and rightly received substantial consideration in the

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MOVERS & SHAKERS

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Hugh James—Phil Edwards

Serious injury teambolstered by high-profile partner hire

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Freeths—Melanie Stancliffe

Firm strengthens employment team with partner hire

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

DAC Beachcroft—Tim Barr

Lawyers’ liability practice strengthened with partner appointment in London

NEWS
Tech companies will be legally required to prevent material that encourages or assists serious self-harm appearing on their platforms, under Online Safety Act 2023 regulations due to come into force in the autumn
Commercial leasehold, the defence of insanity and ‘consent’ in the criminal law are among the next tranche of projects for the Law Commission
The Bar has a culture of ‘impunity’ and ‘collusive bystanding’ in which making a complaint is deemed career-ending due to a ‘cohort of untouchables’ at the top, Baroness Harriet Harman KC has found
Lawyers have broadly welcomed plans to electronically tag up to 22,000 more offenders, scrap most prison terms below a year and make prisoners ‘earn’ early release
David Lammy, Ellie Reeves and Baroness Levitt have taken up office at the Ministry of Justice, following the cabinet reshuffle
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