Hachette makes Times' Top 50 Employers for Women for second year

Hachette UK has been selected as one of the Times Top 50 Employers for Women for the second year running.

The list is described as the UK’s most high-profile table of employers aiming for gender equality in the workplace, and this is the second year in a row that Hachette has been included.

The publisher revealed how it has tailored support during the pandemic to help female employees: “Hachette UK recognises this is not the same pandemic for everyone and that there are complex challenges facing women of myriad identities. Diversity and Inclusion is one of the publisher’s four strategic business pillars and mindful of the risks, it has sought both to safeguard gender equality and to accelerate it. It has taken a holistic and intersectional approach underpinned by a focus on mental, physical, environmental and financial wellbeing, with decisive action ahead of government guidance where necessary.”

Hachette revealed how in advance of school closures, the company circulated guidance for parents and carers if formal or informal support diminish. It reduced working hours per day to six focused hours and suspended core working hours among other measures.

The publisher also launched a Working Families Group last year, established between its Wellbeing Network and Gender Balance Network. The group, led by three women, provides peer support for colleagues with family life challenges. It gained over 90 members in under eight months and its activities have included a virtual play session for children led by one of Hachette UK’s authors, normalising the use of ‘out of office’ messages to highlight flexible working arrangements, and recommending ‘buddying’ so that colleagues have someone to represent them in meetings where childcare prevents attendance.

Ellen Harber and Emma Petfield, co-chairs of Hachette UK’s Gender Balance Network, said: “We are delighted that Hachette UK has earned a place on the Times Top 50 Employers for Women for the second year running. The publishing industry has not yet achieved gender equality, despite having a workforce that is made up of a majority of women employees. We’re proud that Hachette’s leadership team work collaboratively with us to keep gender balance firmly on the agenda, and that these efforts have been recognised by our inclusion on this prestigious list.”

Melanie Tansey, group HR director at Hachette UK (pictured above), commented: “Listings such as this demonstrate that we are changing and show what we can achieve when our leadership, our incredible networks and everyone who works here collaborates on that journey. Upholding gender equality throughout the Covid-19 pandemic has been a key focus and as we reimagine the way we work beyond the pandemic, we are committed to ensuring all our women, and indeed all our staff, benefit from a more flexible model.”

Hachette’s programme of policies and initiatives relating to diversity is collectively known as 'Changing the Story', and marks its 5th anniversary this year.