Category Archives: Equality

‘Don’t discuss your pay’ clauses

Posted on February 10, 2023 by Paul Evans

Have an employer told you that you can’t discuss your pay with anyone? Or that you cannot show anyone your offer of work, or contact? Many contracts in the entertainment industry contain clauses that aim to keep the information regarding … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment Contracts, Employment Law and Rights, Equality, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gender equality, Gender pay, Wages and Pay-rates | Tagged | Leave a comment

“Emotional Tax” of being on guard against racial bias

Posted on January 30, 2023 by Paul Evans

Bectu works in sectors of the economy that are all suffering skills shortages which are, in turn, exacerbated by retention problems. With this in mind, this research is particularly interesting. Summarising it, the LSE blog says… “Being on high alert … Continue reading →

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Diversity of representation, Gender representation, Management, Race equality, Skills & capacity, Workplace conflict | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill – unions concerns

Posted on November 24, 2022 by Paul Evans

I’m sure that you’ve picked up some commentary about “The Retained EU Law (Revocation and Reform) Bill”, which was introduced to Parliament on 22 September 2022. This is a key element of the UK Government’s post-Brexit agenda and affects a … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment Contracts, Employment intermediaries, Employment Law and Rights, Employment status, Equality, EU & Brexit, Freelancer rights, Gender equality, Gender pay, Gig economy workers, Health & Safety, Illness and disability, Long hours, Safe working practices, Safe working standards, Welfare and benefits | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment

Freelancers and their parental rights

Posted on October 27, 2022 by Paul Evans

I’ve had a request to write a briefing on UK parental rights for freelancers on my to-do list for a while, so I was very pleased to discover the website of Maternity Action which seems to answer most of the … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment Law and Rights, Family rights, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gender equality, Welfare and benefits, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Living Wage Foundation brings its annual announcement forward

Posted on October 12, 2022 by Paul Evans

As reported here in the summer, The Living Wage Foundation has brought forward their announcement of the annual Living Wage/London Living Wage increase. The new figures are £10.90 (90p increase)/£11.95 (£1 increase) respectively – the largest ever annual increase (last … Continue reading →

Posted in Inflation, Low pay, Minimum wage rates, Pay & inflation, Wages and Pay-rates, Wealth inequality | Tagged , | Leave a comment

July inflation figures. There’s no good news here…

Posted on August 17, 2022 by Paul Evans

By now you will probably have seen this morning’s announcements about July’s inflation rates. CPI has reached 10.1% (RPI = 12.3% and CPIH = 8.8%). The Bank of England is predicting that it could go as high as 13% thanks … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Housing costs, Inflation, Low pay, Pay & inflation, Wages and Pay-rates, Wealth inequality | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

The Flexibility Paradox

Posted on April 4, 2022 by Paul Evans

The TUC and Working Families are hosting a launch for a book called The Flexibility Paradox by Dr Heejung Chung on Wednesday 20 April at 1400. Throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, flexible working has become the norm for many workers. But … Continue reading →

Posted in Freelancer rights, Gender equality, Remote working, The working environment, Work-life balance | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

Getting the current cost-of-living crisis in perspective

Posted on March 24, 2022 by Paul Evans

How can we understand the current cost of living crisis in perspective when talking to Bectu members about their wages? One way would be to look at it over a few years. In the past few days, coincidentally, I’ve had … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Freelance working, Inflation, Low pay, Pay & inflation, Wages and Pay-rates, Wealth inequality, Welfare and benefits | Tagged , , | 1 Comment

A distinctly British focus for TV programmes

Posted on December 8, 2021 by Paul Evans

David Tennant has been questioning some of the arguments around demands for ‘distinctly British programmes (or ‘lovely jubbly telly‘ as John Whittingdale didn’t say recently). “Is there some inherent criticism within this plea for more Britishness?” he said in the … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity of representation, EU & Brexit, Film & TV industry policy, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, SVoD, Tax incentives | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Stephen Follows research site

Posted on November 29, 2021 by Paul Evans

For anyone who hasn’t already found this at some point, via Google, Stephen Follows runs a fine website full of industry research that answers many questions that you have, and a few you didn’t know you have. Here are some … Continue reading →

Posted in Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Gender representation, High End TV data, Low budget features, Skills & capacity | Tagged | Leave a comment

BECTU and APA ‘Diversity Action Plan’

Posted on November 24, 2021 by Paul Evans

Working with the Advertising Producers Association (APA) Bectu has published a Diversity Action Plan [pdf]. With the support of over 100 production companies, the signatories have committed to implement a step-by-step guide to address under-representation, including participation in the Induction … Continue reading →

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Diversity of representation, Equality, Race equality | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Bectu – Six demands to challenge bullying and harrassment

Posted on November 22, 2021 by Paul Evans

At the end of last week, Bectu published a list of six demands intended to challenge bullying and harassment in the UK TV and film industry. The demands were drafted as part of an ‘#unseenonscreen‘ campaign led by Bectu’s Unscripted … Continue reading →

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Equality, Trades Unions | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Why ‘the freelance deal’ is a big deal – and not just for the workers concerned.

Posted on November 18, 2021 by Paul Evans

There’s a long read on this site about the ‘contingent production army’ that manages large parts of the entertainment industry. Thinking about this issue, and processing it has allowed me to get a clearer idea of what our grievances are … Continue reading →

Posted in Bullying and Harassment, Disability equality, Employment, Employment Law and Rights, Employment status, Equality, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gender equality, Gig economy workers, Health & Safety, IR35, Long hours, Management, Mental Health, National Insurance Contributions (NICs), Occupational Health, Personal Service Companies, Productivity, Race equality, Tax, Theatre and Live Events data | Tagged , , , , , , | Leave a comment

3rd December – International Day of Persons with Disabilities

Posted on November 17, 2021 by Paul Evans

Thursday 3 December is the UN International Day of Persons with Disabilities (IDPD). Introduced in 1992, the IDPD aims to promote the rights and well-being of disabled people across society. In what has been one of the most challenging years … Continue reading →

Posted in Disability equality, Equality | Tagged , | Leave a comment

BEIS consultation on flexible working

Posted on November 17, 2021 by Paul Evans

The BEIS is currently consulting on flexible working – “Making Flexible Working the Default” – here [pdf]. “This consultation includes a set of proposals which are built around the principle that working arrangements are best decided through a constructive, open-minded … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment Contracts, Gender equality, Gender representation, Health & Safety, Long hours, Productivity, Safe working practices, Safe working standards, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged | Leave a comment

Workplace Menopause Policies are slowly catching on

Posted on November 4, 2021 by Paul Evans

It seems that a number of employers are following Channel4’s lead of having a menopause policy. The Employee Benefits website is reporting that 33% of employers are considering introducing a menopause policy. The Menopause in the Workplace website has a … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Gender equality | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Diversity and equal opportunities in TV and radio – Ofcom reporting

Posted on November 3, 2021 by Paul Evans

Ofcom recently published their five-year review on diversity and equal opportunities in TV and Radio [pdf]. It’s an interesting one because a few things are gradually coming together now. So, for example, on disability, they now are able to see … Continue reading →

Posted in Disability equality, Diversity of representation, Equality, Gender equality, Gender representation, Race equality, Wealth inequality | Tagged , , , , | Leave a comment

Updated version of theatre ’10 Principles’ supported by Bectu

Posted on November 1, 2021 by Paul Evans

Today, with Bectu’s support, SOLT and UK Theatre have released an updated version of their 10 Principles for creating safe and inclusive working spaces in the theatre industry, to help tackle bullying, harassment, and discrimination. Bectu have joined a number … Continue reading →

Posted in Bectu Agreements, Bullying and Harassment, Equality, Health & Safety, Mental Health, Safe working standards, Sexual harassment, Theatre and Live Events data, Wellbeing, Work-life balance, Workplace conflict | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

National Living Wage will rise to £9.50 an hour

Posted on October 25, 2021 by Paul Evans

The 59p increase for workers over 23 – up 6.6% from £8.91 reflects the inflationary pressure outlined here a few weeks ago. The new rates will rise from 1 April 2022 as follows: National Living Wage for over-23s: From £8.91 … Continue reading →

Posted in Economics, Inflation, Low pay, Minimum wage rates, National Insurance Contributions (NICs), Pay & inflation, Tax, Trades Unions, Wages and Pay-rates, Wealth inequality | Tagged , , , | 1 Comment

Comprehensive European figures on women’s representation in TV drama

Posted on October 21, 2021 by Paul Evans

Women still under-represented in the #TVfiction industry in Europe🚺Find out more in our report ➡ https://t.co/hjdMgTDNP4 #womeninfilm #diversitymatters #womendirectors #genderequity pic.twitter.com/hqMu7fHIw6 — Europ AV Observatory (@EuAvObservatory) October 20, 2021 The key insights contained in the report are that, beyond obvious … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity of representation, Equality, Film & TV industry data, Gender equality, Gender representation, High End TV data, Management, Skills & capacity, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Flexible working – Arup explore the seven-day week

Posted on October 18, 2021 by Paul Evans

From Arup’s website: “Arup, the employee-owned global engineering and design firm, has today announced it is adopting an innovative hybrid model – known as Work Unbound – that will give its 15,500 employees, known as members, greater flexibility in deciding … Continue reading →

Posted in Employment, Employment Law and Rights, Family rights, Gender equality, Remote working, Work-life balance | Tagged , | Leave a comment

BBC Studios Appoints Tom Fussell as CEO

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Paul Evans

As reported in Variety. “Fussell will oversee BBC Studio’s “ambitious” plans for global expansion, its focus on employee engagement and wellbeing as well as diversity, inclusion and sustainability.”

Posted in BBC, Diversity of representation, Environment & Sustainability, Wellbeing | Tagged , | Leave a comment

French cultural policy

Posted on October 14, 2021 by Paul Evans

France has always had an interesting, and different approach to cultural policy to the UK’s equivalent. In thinking about this last night, I remembered this 2013 document [pdf] from the Coalition Francaise and I thought I’d bookmark it here. This … Continue reading →

Posted in Copyright & Intellectual Property, Culture policy, Diversity of representation, Film & TV industry policy, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Regulation, Tax incentives | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Directors Guild of America approach to diversity

Posted on October 12, 2021 by Paul Evans

Janice Turner has forwarded me some interesting stuff from one of our union kin in the US, The Directors Guild of America (DGA). Their mission statement includes a dual focus: Cultural diversity is reflected in the stories that Directors tell … Continue reading →

Posted in Culture policy, Diversity of representation, Equality, Gender equality, Gender representation, Race equality, Wealth inequality | Tagged | Leave a comment

Women leaving the theatre sector after the pandemic?

Posted on October 11, 2021 by Paul Evans

An interesting-if-depressing report here (reported in The Guardian): “The research, conducted by playwright Jennifer Tuckett, in partnership with organisations such as The Writers’ Guild of Great Britain, Equity, Stage Directors UK and the December Group, found that more than 98% … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Gender equality, Gender pay, Gender representation, Theatre and Live Events data | Tagged , , , , , | Leave a comment

Eva Wiseman in The Observer

Posted on October 6, 2021 by Paul Evans

I thought I’d posted this earlier in the week but it seems I missed it. There’s a very good round-up of the many issues facing people working in film and TV from Eva Wiseman in The Observer. It draws heavily upon … Continue reading →

Posted in Bectu Agreements, Bullying and Harassment, Equality, Freelance working, Health & Safety, Long hours, Major Motion Picture Agreement, Management, Mental Health, Safe working practices, Trades Unions, TV Drama Agreement, Wellbeing, Work-life balance, Workplace conflict | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Homeworking will help improve women’s careers

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Paul Evans

The option to work from home is likely to help employers retain valuable workers, and can make the balance of work and childcare a lot easier to manage. It is likely to result in more ‘returners’ after periods of maternity … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Family rights, Gender equality, Gender pay, Remote working, Work-life balance | Tagged , , | Leave a comment

“Only a union can truly protect members from unsafe workplaces.”

Posted on October 5, 2021 by Paul Evans

In his speech to Equity’s Special Representative Conference, General Secretary Paul Fleming, called for an end to a “seedy culture of misogyny and predatory workplace behaviour” in the sector that his union shares with Bectu members. More on this in … Continue reading →

Posted in Gender equality, Sexual harassment | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Women more likely to leave the Theatre sector post-pandemic

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Paul Evans

A survey [pdf], earlier this year, by Parents and Carers in the Performing Arts (PIPA) highlights a survey it did of members, which showed that 43% of parents or carers were considering abandoning their career because of the pandemic. The … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus, Disability equality, Equality, Family rights, Gender equality, Theatre and Live Events data, Wellbeing | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

CIPD calls for ethnicity pay gap reporting

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Paul Evans

From the CIPD website: “The moral case for pay fairness across all ethnic groups is self-evident. Yet, we still await the consultation response to the 2018 UK Government consultation on mandatory ethnicity pay reporting. And, while the 2020 Black Lives … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Race equality | Tagged | Leave a comment

Bectu Theatre Freelance Branch push for gender equity

Posted on September 23, 2021 by Paul Evans

Building on a strong piece in The Stage [£] from earlier this year by Catherine Kodicek, she has another article in this week that gives good coverage for the new Bectu Theatre Freelancers Branch talking about gender equity. “BECTU does … Continue reading →

Posted in Equality, Gender equality, Gender pay, Theatre and Live Events data | Tagged , , , | Leave a comment

Racial Diversity Initiatives in UK Film and TV – critical Film and TV Charity report

Posted on September 21, 2021 by Paul Evans

Variety seem to have an exclusive on a Film & TV Charity report[pdf] on Racial Diversity Initiatives in UK Film & TV by Dr Clive Nwonka and Professor Sarita Malik. Here are the top lines from it: “There is a … Continue reading →

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Cultural Diversity is not just about limiting discrimination – it’s an economic and industrial factor

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Paul Evans

It’s worth bookmarking Unesco’s Convention on the Protection and Promotion of the Diversity of Cultural Expressions here. This is an important global statement on the need for cultural expressions to be produced, distributed, and owned ‘locally’ (in the Nations and … Continue reading →

Posted in BBC, Disability equality, Diversity of representation, Economics, Equality, EU & Brexit, Factual & Entertainment sector data, Feature film data, Film & TV industry data, Gender equality, Gender representation, High End TV data, Public Service Broadcasting, Quotas, Race equality, Regulation, SVoD, Tax incentives, UK studios, Wealth inequality | Tagged , , , , , , , | 1 Comment

Facebook accused of aiding recruitment bias

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Paul Evans

This, following a tip-off from Paul McManus in Bectu’s Glasgow office: A Global Witness investigation has uncovered evidence that Facebook’s ad targeting may be in breach of UK equality and data protection laws. “In April 2020 [an] ad for job openings … Continue reading →

Posted in Diversity of representation, Equality, Gender equality, Gender pay, Gender representation, Race equality, Wealth inequality | Tagged , | Leave a comment

Locked Down and Locked Out – impact of Covid pandemic on mothers working in UK TV sector

Posted on September 10, 2021 by Paul Evans

49% of respondents said they had been unable to accept work due to childcare related issues. Read the #LockedDownAndLockedOut report now on the impact of the pandemic on mothers in UK TV: https://t.co/37JAX9Djjz pic.twitter.com/JYKKUwZdK4 — Bectu (@bectu) September 9, 2021 … Continue reading →

Posted in Coronavirus, Coronavirus, Equality, Film & TV industry policy, Freelance working, Freelancer rights, Gender equality, Health & Safety, Long hours, Management, Mental Health, Remote working, Wellbeing, Work-life balance | Tagged , , , , , , , | Leave a comment