Great Britain: more than 370 companies have now signed the “Women in Finance charter”.

Forty-two new companies have just signed up to this charter, the goal of which since 2016 is to raise female occupancy rates in positions of responsibility within the financial sector (c.f. article No. 9771). At the time of this announcement on 23 June, the government stated that in 2019 the proportion of women in senior management positions had either increased or stabilized in 3 out of 4 signatory companies. In addition, the average proportion of females in senior management rose from 30% in 2017 to 32% in 2019. “Today’s figures show that progress is being made, but that there is still a great deal more to do,” warned John Glen, Economic Secretary to the Treasury and City Minister. By signing this charter, these companies are promising to link executive remuneration with gender equality. They must also have a plan for achieving progress on these issues, publish an annual report, and appoint a gender diversity and inclusion officer. With more than 370 companies now adhering to this charter, the government is encouraging employers to use the Covid-19 pandemic as an opportunity to offer more flexibility in order to foster female careers. “Firms’ response to Coronavirus has demonstrated that flexible working is not only possible but also a positive change which benefits everyone. As we plan our recovery, I encourage firms to think about how we build on the lessons learned to accelerate progress,” said John Glen.