The UK’s Worker Protection Act came into force last October; now is the time for all employers to act.
It's pretty ironic that today of all days the Deputy Governor of the Bank of England stands accused of failing to declare a conflict of interest in breach of the Bank's own conduct guidelines.
Today (7 March 2017) the FCA Conduct Rules have gone live for pretty much all staff in banks (apart from those with purely administrative functions). Personal accountability to the regulators has a far wider reach now. And the banks themselves should have ensured that, by today, employees know how the rules apply to them and have provided them all with suitable training. The first rule - you must act with integrity.
We know this stuff's not easy and there may be many reasons why people get things wrong. If the news reports are true, how serious a breach do you think Charlotte Hogg has committed? Is it a mere oversight? A serious breach of integrity? Do different, higher, standards of integrity apply to the Deputy Governor than to the bank worker? Who decides?
And that's what makes talking about conduct and integrity so very important (and challenging)...
Charlotte Hogg, the Bank of England's newly appointed deputy governor for markets and banking, has admitted breaching the Bank's guidelines.Last week she told MPs that she had accurately declared all conflicts of interest, and that she had also helped to write the Bank's code of conduct.
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Happy hour? A conversation about alcohol and work – culture, risk and belonging
From post-deal drinks to client events and team celebrations, alcohol is woven into workplace culture. Yet when something goes wrong, it’s rarely seen as ‘just a drink’.
With new duties on employers to prevent sexual harassment, and growing attention on workplace risk and inclusion, it’s time to take a more intentional look at how alcohol shapes workplace culture – and the risks it carries.
This short, focused webinar will explore:
• How alcohol contributes to conduct, harassment and reputational risk
• The assumptions we make about what’s normal, social or expected
• How alcohol intersects with inclusion, wellbeing and boundaries
• What to think about when conducting risk assessments and looking at policies
• Practical steps to build positive connection while protecting what matters
Speakers:
Helen Dallimore
Head of Training, Byrne Dean
An experienced facilitator, trainer and former employment lawyer, Helen works with organisations to strengthen leadership capability and embed respectful workplace behaviours. She brings particular expertise in creating inclusive cultures where people feel safe, respected and able to thrive.
Cicilia Wan
Principal Consultant, Byrne Dean
A former employment lawyer and experienced Head of Employee Relations in global financial services, Cicilia has seen first-hand how alcohol can affect conduct at work, with deep expertise in leadership, culture and people risk.
Steven McCann
Founder and Director, MCG Consulting
A leading voice in workplace addiction and recovery inclusion, Steven advises organisations on addiction awareness, recovery-informed culture and social mobility. He has spoken at the Bank of England and works regularly with law societies, the Legal Services Board and institutions across law, finance and corporate sectors.


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