Tim Goodwin, Associate in Winckworth Sherwood’s Employment team, has featured in People Management magazine in an article that focuses on inclusion riders. The article draws attention to Frances McDormand’s recent acceptance speech at the Oscars where she said “I have two words for you: inclusion rider.”
An inclusion rider, in the context of film and television, is a clause which can be included within an actor’s contract, demanding a specific level of diversity be included among the cast and crew of the production.
Tim highlights the increase over recent years in diversity requirements being imposed on service providers within the legal sector. In addition, he points out how businesses are required to ‘ply their trade’ in a non-discriminatory way, yet on the other hand, clients and customers are free to choose goods or services based on whatever factors are important to them.
Tim also discusses how organisations can avoid the risk of ‘reverse sexism’ or accusations of overt political correctness by painting their efforts to increase diversity in a positive light.