Call for race equality audit

Listed companies and all businesses with more than 50 employees should publish a breakdown of employees by race, ideally by pay band, on their website and in the annual report, according to a review of race in the workplace.

The Race in the workplace review, headed by Ruby McGregor-Smith, has 26 recommendations, including one that all public bodies employing more than 50 people should publish a breakdown of employees by race, ideally by pay band, on Gov.uk and add it to departmental reports. It also recommends that employers should consider taking positive action to improve reporting rates amongst their workforce on issues related to race, including clearly explaining how supplying data will assist the company in increasing diversity overall.

The report says that the UK could benefit from a £24bn-a-year boost if Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) employees progressed at the same rate as their white counterparts. There are many recommendations for employers on issues such as mentoring, recruitment, ensuring diversity in supply chains, target setting and unconscious bias training. The Government’s response to the review favours voluntary employer-led activities.

One recommendation for the Government suggests that it should work with Business in the Community on promoting best practice through creating an annual list of the Best 100 Employers for Race.  Business in the Community today announced a pilot initiative for the Best 100 Employers for Race to be integrated with the Business in the Community Race Equality Awards 2017.

Sandra Kerr, Business in the Community Race Equality Director, said: “Our annual list of ‘Best 100 Employers for Race’ will enable us to celebrate employers from all sectors who, through strong leadership, are demonstrating their commitment to the recruitment, progression and inclusion of BAME people in the workplace. By identifying the 100 best employers in the UK for race diversity and equality, we will showcase businesses at their best and spur other employers on to improve diversity and inclusion in their organisations.”

Other recommendations from the review include urging businesses with more than 50 employees to publish a breakdown of their workforce by ethnicity and pay band, and the announcement of a new Business Diversity and Inclusion Group to ensure government and industry work more closely to improve representation, inclusiveness and opportunities in the workplace.

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• Diversity