Birmingham Future’s Diversity committee hosted a well attended workshop on 29 June.
Ben Gorner, a solicitor from DLA Pipers’ employment team, explained discrimination law and took attendees through case studies to enable those current and future managers to spot potential issues, such as whether a man who is uncomfortable with being treated as the “stud of the office” potentially has a legal cause of complaint.
Ben also provided tips on how to deal with issues sensitively and appropriately. The game of “banter bingo” at the end of the session illustrated the difference of opinions in the room, and demonstrated that one person’s banter can be another’s ridicule.
The meaning of some comments was clear and acceptable, but others, such as saying to an older gentleman, “the length of time you have been here, I would expect a bit more common sense” were not.
The diversity committee hope to run similarly useful events in the future.
By Suzanne Gingles, Diversity Committee Member.
