INCLUSIVITY | INDUSTRY ACTIONS As International Womens Day again raises awareness of discrimination, Molly Tooher-Rudd looks at what companies and CIBSE Inclusivity Panels are doing to promote equality, diversity and inclusion in the workplace WHOS STANDING UP TO INEQUALITY? A s the annual International Womens Day Journal said she broke off her relationship with an engineer after he (8 March) seeks to raise awareness expressed sympathy with Tates views. of gender discrimination, there is So, how can the building services industry protect women from evidence to suggest that sexism and bigotry and indeed stop prejudice and discrimination towards people inequality is still widespread in the UK from all backgrounds? construction industry. Kieran Thompson, head of talent, diversity and inclusion at While it may not always be visible in the office or Cundall, believes the sexism found in mainstream culture will seep on site, surveys and anecdotal evidence show that into the sector, as we dont operate in a bubble. However, the extent unacceptable behaviour towards women is an ongoing to which it does can be limited by how committed we are to building issue in the sector. an inclusive culture, he says. In its 2022 gender equality in construction report, You come across misogyny in all walks of life, including recruitment consultant Randstad found that a quarter engineering, agrees Harriet McKerrow MCIBSE, senior digital of the women surveyed had experienced inappropriate buildings and IoT consultant engineer at Facility Performance comments or behaviour from male colleagues, while 41% Consulting, and vice-chair at WIBSE, which supports women in CIBSE. Companies need to recognise that women may be said the fear of sexual harassment had had an impact on vulnerable to this in the workplace and there must be their career. channels for reporting incidences safely if they occur, This has been the experience of one she says. CIBSE Member currently working in the industry. Speaking to CIBSE Journal Effective representation anonymously, she said she had been WIBSE is a newly resurrected panel that forms one verbally and physically assaulted while of the four pillars of the CIBSE inclusivity committee working in the industry. (see panel, Work of the inclusivity panel). Ive been in tears multiple times in There are women in lots of companies who find the past two years, worrying about whats themselves in teams where they are the only woman, going to come at me next, she says. which can be quite isolating, says McKerrow. We Theres a limit to how much I can handle. want WIBSE to be a community where people feel She says shes not alone: I can David Stevens, comfortable and included, and a space where they will introduce you to a fair few women who LGBTQI+ panel chair be listened to. are at the end of their tether regarding The representation of female engineers at junior how they are treated by male peers, and level is improving as more female graduates come through. However, by the fact they are expected to just suck it up as a price David Stevens, chair of CIBSEs LGBTQI+ panel, believes its likely of working in the industry. We have all had enough. that women are still discouraged from coming into engineering Misogyny in mainstream culture remains ever present, because of the gender bias at higher levels. Making sure that women and has been amplified in recent years by high-profile are effectively represented at all levels within your organisation is online influencers such as Andrew Tate, whose sexist vital, he says. views have gained traction among many young men We need to have more role models from different backgrounds, around the world. One woman who spoke to CIBSE 16 March 2023 www.cibsejournal.com