Eversheds has admitted that it had to carry out an investigation after one of its partners sent a email to a colleague wondering how to deal with an interviewee who had recently had a child. Presumably unaware that thousands of lawyers balance the demands of parenthood and working for a City firm perfectly well, litigation partner Stuart Dutson asked his head of department if there were guidelines about how to question her commitment and how she would balance work and childcare.
From: Dutson, Stuart Sent: 12 June 2009 18:29 To: Davenport, Mark Cc: Shackleton, Stewart Subject: FW: Private mark this lady has recently had a child. are there any guidelines on how we can ask questions properly designed to identify her commitment, hours she is prepared to do, how she will balance work and a child? thanks s The email sparked a chain of messages with Stewart Shackleton, a partner copied in on the email, stressing how inappropriate this approach was. He said that he would not attend the candidate’s interview as he considered it "already compromised and I wish to have no part in this".A spokeswoman for the firm said that "this matter was raised in June 2009. We investigated and dealt with the matter swiftly and decisively through the appropriate line management and HR channels, prior to the candidate's interview. As a result, we are completely satisfied that there was no discrimination or prejudice to the candidate interviewed. Eversheds does not condone any kind of discrimination or behaviour which is counter to our extensive equality and diversity policies." At the foot of all the emails is Eversheds’ proud boast that the firm has won an equality and diversity award.
From: Dutson, Stuart Sent: 12 June 2009 18:29 To: Davenport, Mark Cc: Shackleton, Stewart Subject: FW: Private mark this lady has recently had a child. are there any guidelines on how we can ask questions properly designed to identify her commitment, hours she is prepared to do, how she will balance work and a child? thanks s