Log in
Research by Vickers and Manfredi has enhanced public and policy understanding of equality and diversity issues relating to religious belief, age discrimination and equality policies both nationally and internationally. Their work on equality has been instrumental in developing the equality policy of HEFCE and the equality framework of the REF 2014. They have advised human resources managers in relation to age equality, demonstrably influencing organisational policy development on retirement, through its application in personnel equality training programmes for a range or organisations and agencies. Additionally research by Vickers on religious equality has assisted conceptual understanding and capacity building nationally and within the European Union, underpinning legal challenges to government equality legislation.
The Equality Act 2010 (EqA) is the first major reform to equality legislation since the wave of UK equality legislation in the 1970s. The case deals primarily with the two most innovative aspects of the EqA — the Public Sector Equality Duty (s.149) and the Dual Discrimination provisions (s.14), which have formed the basis of Hazel Conley's research. The research has involved significant impacts with notable reach in relation to: (1) the policy and best practices of five local authorities, with other authorities also drawing on these lessons, (2) trade unions' priorities, strategies and representational roles in relation to equality objectives, including prompting 30 equal pay test cases, and (3) public policy in terms of promoting social justice and public debate, and advocating improvements to government policy.
Professor Sandra Fredman`s `four dimensional model` of equality was incorporated into the Equality Act 2010. Fredman`s research focuses on developing an understanding of equality that is sound in principle, and that is capable of articulating the purposes of equality legislation, particularly for newly developing equality duties which require bodies to take the initiative to promote equality. She has developed a conception of `substantive equality`, involving four dimensions: redressing disadvantage; addressing different needs arising from different identities; promoting participation; and preventing stigma, prejudice, harassment and violence. Fredman`s recommendations were adopted in the Equality Act 2010 to specify the goals of the equality duty. This is now incorporated into guidance produced for, and by, public bodies regarding the fulfilment of their statutory equality duties.
Gender inequality affects workforce effectiveness. Our research has significantly increased awareness of factors which contribute to the paucity of female representation in the public sector. Notably it has shaped the policies and strategies of public sector agencies such the Scottish Government, Leadership Foundation in Higher Education, NHS and educational institutions such as universities and further education colleges. The research provided a platform for implementation of the Gender Equality Duty for the Scottish public sector.