OFFICIALS have approved the resumption of a barrister-led investigation into allegations of bullying and harassment made against Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) chair Baroness Falkner.
A “toxic environment” and a high employee turnover rate were cited as concerns about the official’s behaviour after she was appointed to oversee the UK’s equalities regulator by then-government minister Liz Truss in 2020.
Following rumours that the equalities minister, Kemi Badenoch, was considering such a change, Baroness Falkner supported proposals to modify the Equality Act to define sex as “biological sex” in April.
One person who has voiced “grave concerns” about the EHRC’s state is Parliament’s equalities chief Caroline Nokes. She accuses the EHRC of moving in a “very particular direction of travel when it comes to gender critical views” and failing to uphold its independence from the government ever since Baroness Falkner was appointed.
On Tuesday (17), the watchdog said the investigation had resumed, as first revealed by Channel 4 News. An EHRC spokesperson said: “Following legal advice, the pause on the investigation has been lifted. We are unable to comment further to protect the integrity of the investigation and to ensure fairness to all parties.”
The investigation into the peer’s behaviour was suspended in May days after Baroness Falkner’s supporters alleged in the Daily Mail that she was the target of a “witch hunt” organised by “the trans lobby.” The suspension was reportedly made to “seek legal advice on the impact of leaked confidential information.
MORE than 100 former and present McDonald’s employees have come out to talk about sexual harassment, racism, and homophobia, only a few months after the multinational food chain signed a legal agreement with the Equalities Human Rights Commission (EHRC) to safeguard employees.
According to a BBC investigation, management at McDonald’s frequently ignored reports of sexual harassment and groping of its employees, many of whom were young.
Following statements made in February that it “already has a strong track record in this area,” McDonald’s “deeply apologised” and acknowledged that it had failed.
The agreement with the EHRC called for expressing a zero-tolerance policy towards sexual harassment, conducting anonymous workplace safety surveys, improving policies to prevent sexual harassment and handling complaints, and introducing training to assist managers in identifying high-risk areas and taking action to prevent sexual harassment.
The EHRC has established a private email hotline for those who have been impacted, and a spokeswoman expressed alarm upon learning of the further accusations.
TRANS WOMEN are not permitted to participate in female competitions, according to Union Cycliste Internationale (UCI), which oversees international cycling. The August UCI World Championships in Glasgow will not let trans women to participate since the new regulation came into effect on Monday (17).
UCI said: “From now on, female transgender athletes who have transitioned after (male) puberty will be prohibited from participating in women’s events on the UCI International Calendar – in all categories – in the various disciplines.”
The choice was decided on July 5 during a UCI meeting. The group argues that gender-affirming hormone therapy fall short in their efforts to completely eradicate testosterone’s positive effects during male puberty and asserts that taking this action was important to safeguard the rights of women and promote equality.
British Cycling enacted a similar rule banning trans women from competing, in May. There have also been prohibitions in women’s track, rugby, and swimming.
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