Looking Ahead for 2023-24

Working with our Equality, Diversity, and Inclusion Committee, we have identified several actions which we want to work on over the next twelve months.

Objective 1 - Engaging with and understanding the diversity of our people and those we serve

1.1  Work with the Southwest Civil Service ED&I Community of Practice to improve the outcomes for those who identify as having a long-term health condition/disability.

1.2 Explore the insights gained from improvements to ethnicity, sexual orientation, and carer fields in our HR data system.

1.3 Establish what ED&I insights arise from our Employee Value Proposition survey (Great Place to Work).

1.4 Examine the implications of the new BSL Act on our communications and engagement approaches.

1.5 Record and maintain demographic data on the young people that we engage with through our Education Outreach activities to evaluate and identify priority groups.

 

Objective 2- Advancing equality of opportunity

2.1 Communicate the benefits of the new workplace adjustments passport so there is wide adoption and understanding.

2.2 Work with Business Disability Forum to submit a Disability Confident Leader award submission in 2024.

2.4 Providing information to our suppliers and partners to ensure they support our ED&I Strategy.

2.5 Developing a baseline of young people data and comparing with Met Office staff diversity data to inform priority groups for Education Outreach.

 

Objective 3 - Increasing representation of under-represented groups at all levels

3.1 Undertake a feasibility study of ethnicity pay gap reporting.

3.2 Partner with Institute of Physics and Royal Meteorological Society to address under-represented groups in the workforce.

 

Objective 4 - Zero tolerance to bullying, harassment and discrimination

4.1 Implement recommendations from the Civil Service Bullying, Harassment and Discrimination Strategy.

4.2 Develop assistance dogs’ guidance for all Met Office sites.

4.3 Publish our new our Safe Space to Speak Up guidance.

4.4 Develop a safety of women action plan in response to signing the Exeter Safety of Women at Night Charter and ensure this is covers other office locations.

 

Public customer data

Research undertaken in the last year identified there were certain groups and demographics that were less likely to have access to weather forecasts. These included:

• People aged 65+ with vulnerabilities.
• Low socioeconomic groups.
• Low employment or unemployed groups.
• Sole parents with children under 5.
• Homeless people/those living on the street or in sheltered accommodation.

We are taking actions as a result to ensure that such groups and demographics can be reached by the end of March 2024.