No non-diverse hire at Aviva without it being signed off by the CEO

[ValerieVomit]

The boss of Aviva has revealed senior white male recruits have to get a final sign-off from her and the chief people officer as part of the firm's drive to improve diversity. Amanda Blanc, who became the insurer's first female chief executive in 2020, said the policy formed part of its efforts to end sexism in the financial services industry. The 56-year-old told MPs on the Treasury select committee that 'there is no non-diverse hire at Aviva without it being signed off by me and the chief people officer'.

https://www.theguardian.com/inequality/2023/dec/13/aviva-has-acted-to-sack-male-employees-for-inappropriate-behaviour-says-boss-amanda-blanc-sexism-in-the-city-inquiry

What do you think?

I struggle with the term diverse/diversity. Diverse as opposed to what, the norm or the average "Brit"?? There is no norm. I have spent years trying to convince my grandparents that being gay is perfectly NORMAL and they won't have it.

Well, take a look at the average board of directors and you'll see what is not diverse. Straight white men who went to a handful of schools and universities, capable and dedicated I'm sure but they'll have similar experiences and ways of thinking.

Diverse doesn't mean abnormal. It means a mix of viewpoints. It's proven to deliver better results.

It is hard to define though, eg does class background count, mental health conditions, what counts as a disability, does race count and at what point (eg two individuals with the same mixed heritage might have different relationships to their identity). Lots of people from ethnic minority backgrounds still have hugely privileged upbringings (rishi sunak springs to mind). And so on and so on.

But the initiative to want more than lip service to diversity is a good thing.

Of course, the more challenging side of diversity is ensuring a good pipeline of talent, which means better recruitment, company culture, family friendliness etc etc

The issue is that diversity can only apply to a group. It can’t be an individual attribute.

You can’t be a ‘diverse’ person. The aims should be for a diverse mix of individuals within a group, reflecting population level norms.

The issue is that diversity can only apply to a group. It can’t be an individual attribute.

Exactly.

And all individuals are have protected characteristics, even if they are part of a majority, or indeed elite, group.

People in their minds need to imagine that this is the company's practice about any other group they choose. Let's say, people with mental health issues, or from impoverished backgrounds, whatever. Not because they would want to discriminate, but just to make sure that the process is being properly observed.

People would be suspicious immediately that this would result in some kind of individual level discrimination. Or the kind of inadvertent pressure it would create for those hiring to avoid triggering that kind of review, which would tend to result in discriminatory choices.