Supporters’ Network Webinar: Equality Issues

The COVID-19 pandemic has exposed many equality issues and brought them to the forefront, further exacerbating inequalities that were already prevalent for many communities both in and out of the workplace. These issues, no matter how they are manifesting within the workplace, must be dealt with by employers to ensure they do not continue to disproportionately affect people or undo progress that has been made in these areas prior to the pandemic. 

This webinar will explore issues faced by the BAME community in GM, key workers and the real living wage and pay equity among leaders and their workforce – and how employers can address these issues now and moving forward. Ian MacArthur, Head of the Good Employment Charter will host the discussion with Sharon Amesu, Chair of IoD Manchester Branch and Award-Winning Professional Speaker, John Hacking, GM Living Wage Campaign Coordinator, and Donald Moore, Chair at Rowlinson Knitwear. 

'Disparities in the risk and outcome of COVID-19', a report from Public Health England, saw disparities in the areas of age and sex, geography, deprivation, ethnicity, occupation, inclusion health groups, deaths in care homes, and comorbidities. The report confirms that the impact of COVID-19 has replicated existing health inequalities and, in some case, has increased them. People experiencing deprivation, people in disproportionately affected BAME communities, and those in certain occupations have experienced greater health risks from COVID-19 and this will affect their working lives as well - employers need to recognise this and give individuals more support where it is needed.

There are a host of different equality issues coming to light through the pandemic that we plan to continue to speak on going forward, this will not be the only webinar on inequalities.