Barrier Bosses Standing in the Way of Gender Equality

Research from the Fawcett Society reveals recruitment managers are twice as likely to be against equality for women in the workplace than the general population.

A small but powerful group of "barrier bosses" are halting progress towards gender equality, according to new research from the Fawcett Society.

The survey of more than 1,400 recruitment managers found that they were more than twice as likely to be against equality of opportunity than the general population, and one in seven believed they would lose out if men and women were more equal.

25% of the men and women questioned said they believed a more equal society would not be better for the UK economy, compared with just 13% in a separate survey of 8,000 adults.

Sam Smethers, chief executive of the Fawcett Society, said: "A significant minority of managers - the 'barrier bosses' - are holding us back. They are the ones with the power over recruitment and their decisions are likely to be informed by their attitudes to equality.