Out Of Office Message Firms Set Codes Of Conduct For Behaviour At Work Events

When more than 1,300 lending bosses, regulators and MPs descended on the Grosvenor House hotel in London for a black-tie dinner in late February, they arrived informed.

- Kalyeena Makortoff 

Invitees to the Financing & Leasing Association (FLA) event had been handed an "annual dinner code of conduct" informing guests of a new policy on discrimination and sexual harassment. The trade body would "not tolerate any such behaviour and will ... take immediate action to stop it".

It was the first time the industry group - whose members include Santander, Lloyds Banking Group and the lending arms of Harley-Davidson and Ferrari - had published such a declaration.

The FLA is one of a growing number of organisations trying to address a lax attitude to behaviour at conferences, after-work drinks and business trips in the City of London that has the potential to put their employees, guests and reputations at risk.

While the introduction of the Equality Act in 2010 undoubtedly kickstarted businesses' diversity and inclusion efforts, their progress, or lack thereof, has faced mounting scrutiny since 2017's #MeToo movement and scandals in the City.

Prompted by rape and sexual harassment allegations against the Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein, women across the world started sharing personal stories of sexual harassment, including in the workplace. Months later, the UK was rocked by revelations surrounding the men-only Presidents Club dinner, where hired hostesses were allegedly groped and sexually harassed by invited businessmen and bankers.

The corporate response triggered a renewed focus on the representation of women, and more stringent rules for workplace behaviour. But few businesses focused attention on gatherings taking place outside working hours.

Last month the commons Treasury select committee published evidence from more than 40 women across the financial services industry as part of its Sexism in the City inquiry.