Coca-Cola is giving $50 million to its foundation in the USA for community initiatives, following its $190 million settlement of a race discrimination case on November 16. The company is also providing funds to set up a seven-member watchdog group and an employee complaints line as part of the restructuring of its employee relations strategy. Contact Coca-Cola on 00 1 404 676 2121 (http://www.cocacola.com)
Disability ignorance no excuse
Neither companies nor potential claimants know enough about the Disability Discrimination Act to make it effective, according to two reports published to mark its four-year anniversary on December 3. The Institute of Employment Rights analysed the first 2,500 cases lodged under the DDA and found a high level of ignorance about rights under the legislation. A survey of 183 businesses by the Institute of Directors found that four-fifths have not made any ‘reasonable adjustments’ to employment policies, practices and procedures to ensure equal treatment, even though this is mandatory for employers of more than 15 people. Two-fifths of employers do not know where to go for advice. Contact the DDA Helpline on 0870 600 5522 (http://www.disability.gov.uk), IER on 020 7498 6919 (http://www.ier.org.uk) or IoD on 020 7451 3263 (http://www.iod.co.uk)
FTSE Female Index
Pearson has topped a new league table analysing women in the boardrooms of the UK’s biggest companies, with SmithKline Beecham and Barclays as runners-up. The FTSE Female Index, launched on November 7 as a joint initiative by Harriet Harman MP, The Fawcett Society and The Industrial Society, shows that women make up less than two percent of FTSE 100 executive directors and less than eight percent of non-executive directors. A panel of potential female board members is being assembled.
On October 26 the Equal Opportunities Commission said women are still paid almost one fifth less than their male colleagues, based on the New Earnings Survey 2000. Contact Mary-Ann Stephenson, Fawcett Society, on 020 7628 4441 (http://www.gn.apc.org/fawcett/home.html) or EOC on 020 7222 1110 (http://www.statistics.gov.uk)
news in brief
• The Runnymede Trust’s report on the Future of Multi-Ethnic Britain became required, and controversial, reading on diversity issues when published on October 8. Welcoming it, the Home Office announced an £11.6 million race equality grants scheme, Connecting Communities, to create better links between minority ethnic communities and local service providers. Contact Runnymede Trust on 020 7600 9666 (http://www.runnymedetrust.org.uk) or Home Office on 020 7273 2190 (http://www.homeoffice.gov.uk)
• Ford says it will audit the race equality policies and practices in all its British workplaces by April of 2001. The audit process was approved by the Commission for Racial Equality on October 9 and follows complaints by workers. Contact Kamal Jeet Jandu, Ford UK, on 01277 254 094 (http://www.ford.co.uk)
• Microsoft announced $250,000 in grants to nine organisations focusing on improving employment opportunities for people with disabilities on October 26, focusing on technology and training. Contact Microsoft on 00 1 425 882 8080 (http://www.microsoft.com/giving)
COMMENTS