ESB's Joint Equality Council

Esther Lynch, JEC Chairperson, outlines how the JEC supports ESB staff

Most equality strategies in ESB trace their origin to the Joint Equality Council (JEC). It is the key arena for management and union discussion on equality policy and practice in ESB. During our term in office, the outgoing JEC made recommendations on issues impacting on ESB and its staff, including the following:

We recommended that Directors should set measurable equality targets, including diversity awareness training, and that ESB should examine the factors which impact on the gender pay gap. We proposed that the new PHR system should allow staff to voluntarily update equality related data.

Our recommendations to enhance working life resulted in

• Introduction of Breast Feeding facilities in Head Office and Wilton in Cork;
• Increasing the upper age limit of children from five to eight whose parents can avail of parental leave;
• Transfer of parental leave between parents working in the same company
• The introduction of Life Balance Time;
• Increasing Paternity Leave from three days to five days with pay and with the option of taking a further five days without pay.

We supported the Traineeship for People with Disabilities, and the new Educational Bursary for children of staff who have a disability.

We re-drafted several policy documents and wrote new Codes of Practice, including the Equal Opportunities and Diversity Code of Practice, Respect and Dignity for the Individual in ESB and ESB Policy on Cultural Diversity. Members visited Wilton, Ardnacrusha, Sligo, Waterford, Limerick and Galway to meet staff, to outline the role of the JEC and to raise awareness of equality issues.

The JEC is a valuable partnership forum for equality and diversity, and we are sure that the incoming Council will continue to promote, develop and be involved in achieving equality outcomes for the organisation.

The Equal Opportunities Manager and Office are a crucial resource to the Directorates in promoting and facilitating Equality and Diversity. The Equal Opportunities Management role needs to maintain the necessary capability and strategic influence to drive the process forward.

I have enjoyed the last five years chairing the JEC. I have seen a fantastic commitment to partnership in dealing with equality-at-work issues in ESB. I can understand why ESB is recognised as the leader in this very important area.

I wish to publicly thank the staff in the Equal Opportunities Office, Freida Murray and Niall O'Connor, who have unfailingly supported the Council. Their work and commitment have contributed enormously to our success.

My sincere thanks also go to John Campion, Executive Director, Human Resources & Corporate Affairs, for his ongoing support and his confidence in the JEC. I wish to thank the Trade Unions for their support over the life of this Council, and also thank the many specialists who briefed us on legal issues involved in a changing equality climate.

I commend my JEC colleagues for their commitment, professionalism and cooperation. Their support and consensus approach made my job as Chairperson a lot easier. Finally, our work was necessary, important and made a difference in promoting equality and improving the working lives of people in ESB. Esther Lyn