PictonProperty Income Limited Sustainability Report 2021
09
Introduction
Approach
Environmental Focus
Sustainable Buildings
Our Employees
Stakeholder Engagement
Appendix
Introduction The challenges impacting business continued
Diversity and inclusion
Health and wellness
There is a lack of diversity within the sector and the real estate industry has a role to play in combating unconscious bias and discrimination against underrepresented groups. Women are also underrepresented, particularly at Board level. A culture of presenteeism does not favour those, more often women, trying to balance work and family life. The pandemic exacerbated this issue for many women, who frequently bear the brunt of childcare, home schooling and household administration alongside employment.
Powerful images and widespread media coverage of the Black Lives Matter movement in summer 2020 forced society to wake up to prejudice and recognise privilege. The law demands equal opportunities during the recruitment process; however, the issue begins far earlier than this. Unconscious bias affects children from early years education through to career choices and opportunities. There are many factors which impact the journey to a successful career. This is of course a problem seen much wider than in the real estate industry, but there are things we can do to make a positive impact. Acknowledging that the issue exists, educating employees, tracking implicit bias, creating flexible working practices, widening the pool of information sources and advisers and offering inclusive work experience programmes are all conducive to creating a company culture that values diversity. There is increasing recognition that with diversity comes many advantages, a greater number of perspectives, increased innovation, creativity, and problem-solving ability. Inroads have been made, but there is a way to go.
Provisions for increasing employee wellness has been high on corporate agendas in recent years. The focus on this increased during the Covid-19 pandemic, specifically with heightened emphasis on air quality, ventilation, and outdoor space. Making a building Covid-safe varies from sector to sector, for retailers and the creation of one-way systems, social distance floor markings and screening, allows shoppers to be safer. Office workers will return to desks that are spaced further apart, with improved air conditioning and ventilation. Avoidance of crowded public transport has led to greater numbers travelling further on foot or by bicycle, increasing the need for cycle storage and shower facilities at work. Frameworks and accreditations designed to assess a building’s wellness profile are gaining traction. Areas covered include air quality, light, sounds and noise, temperature control and provisions for physical and mental health. Buildings which score highly against these criteria will be better placed to meet the needs of increasingly health-conscious occupiers and be more desirable to investors.
Read more on our response to health and wellness on pages 26–27
Read more on our diversity and inclusion policy on page 32
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