Hachette UK named one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality for fifth year

20^th June 2024 – Hachette UK has been listed as one of The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality 2024 for the fifth consecutive year and remains the only UK publishing business to be featured.

Hachette UK submitted evidence of the business’ commitment to removing gender inequalities in the workplace, including flexible working, family-friendly policies, pay, its inclusive culture, reward, and progression at work. Hachette UK’s Gender Balance employee network remains the largest of the business’ 11 networks and has driven culture change via events, advising on policy change and advocating for its members.

One of the UK’s most highly profiled and well-established list of employers making gender equality part of their business strategy at all levels, The Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality awards organisations on their commitment to addressing gender inequalities in the workplace.

Lisa Waterman, Group HR Director at Hachette UK, said: “I’m thrilled that Hachette UK has been selected as one of the Times Top 50 Employers for Gender Equality for the fifth year running. I am pleased with the additional support we were able to provide staff in lower pay quartiles through our 2023 pay review, as well as the continuation of our Virtual Work Experience, our Diverse Future Leaders mentoring programme and the pay and progression panel events spearheaded by our Gender Balance Network.

I am proud to work for a company that champions diversity, equity, and inclusion as part of its mission. We want to ensure we remain actively accountable and that we continue to work diligently to accomplish gender balance across all aspects of our business with initiatives like the review of our Family Leave policies, which will take place this year. To thrive, we must attract and retain the very best talent from a diverse range of backgrounds that authentically reflect our readership and the communities we serve. I’m excited to continue working towards this goal.”

Charlotte Woodworth, Gender Equality Director at Business in the Community, said: “Being named as a Times Top 50 employer for gender equality demonstrates Hachette UK’s commitment to driving a more equitable, inclusive world. But while the employers who made the list are doing great work prioritising gender equality, there is still more work to do. From addressing pay disparities to better supporting those with caring responsibilities, many employees, women among them, still face barriers to finding employment and progressing in their careers. It is every employer’s responsibility to play their part in reducing and removing gender inequalities from the workplace, and research shows this isn’t just the right thing to do, it also makes business sense.”