Lucy Burton

London

Employment Editor and Columnist at The Telegraph

Employment editor and columnist @telegraph.

Articles

HR hypocrisy on diversity fuelled trans extremism

6 days ago | yahoo.com | Lucy Burton

An important question is missing as the Supreme Court ruling on the legal definition of a woman sparks more fiery debate. How exactly did this discussion about gender identity and trans rights become so toxic – and is Britain’s ballooning HR empire partly to blame? Given that polls have shown few approach this topic through a hyper-political lens and the most common starting point is one of compassion, it’s unclear why some HR teams have in recent years decided to turn themselves into activists.
HR hypocrisy on diversity fuelled trans extremism

6 days ago | telegraph.co.uk | Lucy Burton

Instead of calming the debate, employers have contributed to a polarised and toxic narrative that nobody asked for by taking extreme measures against those with a different view. Take the case of Fran Itkoff, a 90-year-old woman from California who had volunteered for a multiple sclerosis charity for over 60 years only to be told last year that her services were no longer required. Why?
Stonewall’s hour of reckoning has finally arrived

1 week ago | yahoo.com | Lucy Burton

For decades, influential charity Stonewall was widely regarded as a champion for equal rights – winning over the most powerful businesses and politicians. Its influence was such that hundreds of Britain’s largest organisations battled for top spot on its flagship equality leader board, handing millions of pounds to the charity in the process. But much has changed. The 36-year-old organisation now facing a crisis that has prompted even one of its founders to turn against it.
Stonewall's hour of reckoning has finally arrived

1 week ago | telegraph.co.uk | Lucy Burton |Pui-Guan Man

However, for many bosses, the damage was already done. Even before the latest Supreme Court ruling, tensions were rising. In 2022, Stonewall was criticised for suggesting that nurseries were not doing enough to help children as young as two "recognise their trans identity", while last year its support of puberty blockers came under fire following a major review by paediatrician Dr Hilary Cass.
Bosses warn Rayner’s workers’ rights bill will cause more strikes

1 week ago | msn.com | Szu Ping Chan |Lucy Burton

Microsoft Cares About Your PrivacyMicrosoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
Bosses warn Rayner's workers' rights bill will cause more strikes

1 week ago | telegraph.co.uk | Szu Ping Chan |Lucy Burton

The Telegraph revealed the group were planning an intervention last month. The final letter warns that current proposals to give workers the right to claim unfair dismissal against their employer from day one, alongside a raft of other measures, will leave businesses "hamstrung" while simultaneously handing unions free rein to "behave unreasonably".
The unions are holding the country to ransom. And Starmer can do nothing about it

1 week ago | msn.com | Lucy Burton

Microsoft Cares About Your PrivacyMicrosoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
The unions are holding the country to ransom. And Starmer can do nothing about it

1 week ago | telegraph.co.uk | Lucy Burton

However, union figures suspect the growing anger is mutual. Under Sir Tony Blair, Labour was accused of treating unions like "embarrassing elderly relatives" at a family party. Now, one union source claims Labour probably sees unions as a "drunk uncle ruining a children's birthday party". Paul Nowak, head of the Trades Union Congress (TUC), argues that although the Government inherited a "big job to get the country back on track and hit the ground running", there was always going to be friction.
Lords plot rebellion over Rayner’s crackdown on free speech in pubs

1 week ago | msn.com | Lucy Burton

Microsoft Cares About Your PrivacyMicrosoft and our third-party vendors use cookies to store and access information such as unique IDs to deliver, maintain and improve our services and ads. If you agree, MSN and Microsoft Bing will personalise the content and ads that you see. You can select ‘I Accept’ to consent to these uses or click on ‘Manage preferences’ to review your options and exercise your right to object to Legitimate Interest where used.
Lords plot rebellion over Rayner's crackdown on free speech in pubs

1 week ago | telegraph.co.uk | Lucy Burton

Lord Young said he was convinced his amendments have a "fighting chance" of getting the nod from his peers. A number of fellow Lords criticised the third-party harassment clause in the Bill last month after the Equality and Human Rights Commission (EHRC) said recently that the new rules could lead to "excessive limitations on debate".