Workplaces • Page 4
-
What does the Forstater judgment mean for employers?
On 6th July 2022 an employment tribunal found that Maya Forstater had been directly discriminated against by the Center for Global Development because of her beliefs. This follows on from the precedent-setting judgment of the Employment Appeal Tribunal in June 2021, which found that the “gender critical” belief “that...
8th July 2022
-
Maya Forstater: Woman discriminated against over trans tweets, tribunal rules
BBC News
A woman who said people cannot change their biological sex was discriminated against by her employers, an employment tribunal has ruled. Tax expert Maya Forstater did not have her contract renewed after posting a series of tweets about gender and sex. -
Maya Forstater wins belief discrimination case over gender-critical views
Personnel Today by Rob Moss
Maya Forstater, the woman who successfully appealed that her gender-critical views were protected as a philosophical belief last summer, has won her claim for direct discrimination and victimisation at the employment tribunal. -
A win for free speech and sex-based rights
Sex Matters’ Executive Director, Maya Forstater, has won her employment tribunal case against her former employer. Here is her press statement: Maya Forstater, who took a claim for belief discrimination against her former employer, the Center for Global Development, has been vindicated by a ruling that she was unlawfully...
6th July 2022
-
Forstater v CGD Europe & Others: Maya Forstater succeeds in Employment Tribunal
Press release from Doyle Clayton, workplace lawyers.
Gender critical beliefs are protected in the workplace. -
Information Commissioner strikes down secrecy of Stonewall scheme
The Information Commissioner has ordered the University of Oxford to disclose the scores and feedback it received from Stonewall as part of the lobby group’s controversial Workplace Equality Index scheme. Following a Freedom of Information appeal undertaken as part of the “Don’t Submit to Stonewall” campaign initiated by Legal...
1st July 2022
-
Groups defending sex-based rights
Overview of groups opposing sex self-ID in the UK, set up by individuals and collectives concerned by the failure of established third-sector organisations to defend women’s sex-based rights, child safeguarding and evidence-based policymaking. Also listed on our website.
-
Who is Edward Lord?
Can a person who accuses everyone who disagrees with radical gender ideology of “transphobia” be the right person to hear a case about discrimination for gender-critical belief?
20th June 2022
-
Sex Matters response to “More in Common”
More in Common is an organisation that seeks to “build societies and communities that are “stronger, more united, and more resilient to the increasing threats of polarisation and social division”. Perhaps as a response to this challenge from Maya Forstater, it has applied its approach to the gender wars....
16th June 2022
-
Gender-critical: your rights at work
A leaflet to print at home. Or a glossier version for colour printing or sharing online.
-
We have been worthy of respect for a whole year!
A year ago today Maya Forstater won a critical judgment in the Employment Appeal Tribunal, establishing that gender-critical beliefs are “worthy of respect in a democratic society”. The judgment had many implications: Employers should not refuse to employ someone because they have expressed gender-critical views online. Organisations should recognise...
10th June 2022
-
Highlights from Kirrin Medcalf’s evidence
From our live notes of the evidence of the Allison Bailey v Stonewall Equality Limited and Garden Court Chambers Case – cross-examination of Kirrin Medcalf, 10th May 2022 (all screenshots are from documents in the public domain). Background: Kirrin Medcalf had been employed by Stonewall as its head of...
16th May 2022
-
Yes, sex DOES matter in changing rooms
Following our blog post, more than 1,500 customers wrote to Monsoon to tell them why female-only changing rooms are important. Here’s one letter: “Dear Monsoon,What on earth are you thinking? Please get a sense of proportion here. The vast majority of your customers are female and will not take...
13th May 2022
-
Union to vote on putting “boundaries” on gender-critical thought in the civil service
The FDA is the trade union for managers and professionals in public service. It includes the most senior civil servants and specialists such as lawyers and statisticians. Delegates at tomorrow’s annual conference will be considering a motion that would put “boundaries” on gender-critical speech and adopt the position that...
11th May 2022
-
Sex Matters’ advice to companies on the FCA’s new reporting requirements
Last week, we reported that the Financial Conduct Authority had issued new rules about its requirements for listed companies to report on the proportion of women on corporate boards, scrapping its earlier proposal for this to be based purely on gender self-identification. The new regulations let companies choose whether to report...
29th April 2022
-
Diversity and inclusion on boards: advice to companies on new FCA reporting requirements
The Financial Conduct Authority has left it up to companies to determine how they define “men” and “women” in their diversity reporting. This briefing aims to assist boards in complying with the new regulations. We recommend the simplest, clearest, most neutral and most coherent approach: reporting based on sex.
-
Sex matters in changing rooms
A story was reported in the media last week about Charlie, a “non-binary teenager”, being excluded from the fitting rooms of the women’s clothing retailer Monsoon in Birmingham. According to the report, Charlie (for avoidance of doubt, a young man) was told to leave the cubicle and then the...
20th April 2022
-
Financial Conduct Authority says corporate boards can use sex not gender
The Financial Conduct Authority has issued new rules requiring listed companies to report on the proportion of women on corporate boards, scrapping its earlier proposal to require this to be based on gender self-identification. 439 people and organisations (over 80% of respondents) raised the issue of gender vs sex...
20th April 2022
-
Maya Forstater interviewed on BBC Woman’s Hour
Presenter Emma Barnett talks to Maya Forstater about her legal case on 9th March 2022.
18:04 to 48:04 on BBC Sounds. -
What does it take to get into Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index?
Stonewall’s Workplace Equality Index (WEI) has had a revamp, with new “gold”, “silver” and “bronze” awards. Are these medals anything to be proud of?
25th February 2022
-
Gender representation on public boards (Scotland) – opinion of the court, 18th February 2022
For Women Scotland sought judicial review of the Scottish Government’s decision to change the definition of “woman”, an appeal against the decision of the Lord Ordinary made on 23rd March 2021.
-
Government organisation leaves Stonewall over concerns about impartiality and cost
The government’s Insolvency Service is the latest organisation to leave Stonewall, stating in its internal communications: “Unfortunately, there are concerns around impartiality and upon review, we found that the contract did not represent value for money.” The Insolvency Service joins a growing list of companies and organisations who have...
10th February 2022
-
Why UCL decided to leave Stonewall
UCL (University College London) has published the documents about its decision not to re-join Stonewall.
1st February 2022
-
Principles for clarity and respect
The Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) is planning to release new guidance on single-sex services imminently. To support this Sex Matters is publishing two briefings. The first one sets out principles for clarity and respect for single-sex services. From everyday facilities such as toilets and changing rooms to...
28th January 2022
-
Getting it right – diversity and inclusion on company boards and executive committees
The Financial Conduct Authority’s proposal for monitoring diversity and inclusion is well intentioned, but flawed. Sex Matters and Legal Feminist outline the practical and legal problems in abandoning sex-based monitoring for the controversial concept of “gender identity”, and suggest a better solution.
-
Courage calls to courage: in conversation with Maya Forstater
At the Filia 2021 conference, Maya Forstater in an informal discussion with some of the women who have stood up for women's rights and against gender ideology: Stephanie Davies Arai with parents and schools, Joanna Cherry in parliament, Jenni Murray in the media, Laoise Uí Aodha de Brún in...
-
Professor Kathleen Stock – the disinformation exposed
The protestors have been circulating falsehoods and vexatious arguments – here‘s our response.
-
Exposing disinformation about Kathleen Stock
The intensification of targeting of Professor Kathleen Stock attracted public attention to the long-term campaign against her, and to the larger issue of academic freedom. Claims have been circulating which seek to discredit her and those who support her. We assess each one.
25th October 2021
-
A concerning response to the academics’ letter
Signatories to our letter addressed to Baroness Kishwer Falkner at the Equality and Human Rights Commission have received correspondence criticising their decision to sign it, some of which we consider coercive, threatening or discriminatory.
23rd October 2021
-
Legal Feminist responds to FCA consultations
Legal Feminist applauds the intention behind the proposals, and is a strong proponent of data-driven policy-making, but felt that the way in which those intentions were to be reflected in rules and policy rendered the proposals at best ineffective and at worst dangerous.
-
Pronouns at work
You often ask us what you should do when a workplace asks you to ‘state your pronouns’, in your email signature or during introductions in meetings. We explain the laws surrounding the issue and what to do if this new ritual makes you uncomfortable.
19th October 2021