Bristol-based specialist employment law firm Menzies Law is celebrating a duo of good news with a national awards shortlisting, and Fellowship of the Royal Society of Arts, all in recognition of their campaigning work on the gender pay gap.
The employment law specialists have been shortlisted in the Law Society’s Excellence Awards in the Diversity and Inclusion category.
The award recognises law firms that have showcased successful and innovative examples of best practice in the promotion of diversity, inclusion and social mobility. Menzies Law demonstrated a commitment to inclusive policies in recruitment, retention and promotion of staff, as demonstrated by the fact that the vast proportion of their solicitors are working mothers, working on flexible part-time contracts.
The firm is up against large London and national law firms, and will find out if it wins the award on 19th October.
In the same month, Director and owner of Menzies Law, Luke Menzies, was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society for the encouragement of Arts, Manufactures and Commerce (RSA), for his dedication to helping employers understand and take action on the gender pay gap and equal pay.
Becoming a Fellow of the RSA is considered a huge honour, and can only be awarded if the candidate is nominated by another Fellow and can demonstrate commitment to improving society.
Founded in 1754, the RSA’s mission is to create the conditions for the enlightened thinking and collaborative action needed to address today's most pressing social challenges.
Mr Menzies’ Fellowship takes note of his work bringing a new innovative gender pay gap audit and advice service to the market, and also his work promoting issues around equal pay, both publicly and within his own firm.
“I was absolutely delighted to be notified about becoming a Fellow of the RSA, it is such a great privilege for me and honour for the firm as well,”
said Mr Menzies.
“But to then be notified we’d been shortlisted for Excellence in Diversity and Inclusion by the Law Society, was the icing on the cake. I and the whole team have spent the last 18 months campaigning about and promoting the issue of the gender pay gap and equal pay, as well as helping employers audit their organisation and reduce their gender pay gap.
In a modern, Western society in the 21st century we should not have a gender pay gap - it seems archaic and unnecessary. It’s good news that the government has brought in gender pay gap reporting legislation, but I believe it will need to go much further than that if we have any chance of eradicating it in our lifetime.”
Mr Menzies, a father-of-three from North Bristol, added:
“Just as importantly, we’ve taken our own advice and as a firm we try to be as inclusive and diverse as possible. Our structure allows us to offer flexible and home-working to our team, and that allows mothers in particular to continue their career, and we have several extremely talented solicitors, administration and finance staff, who manage their careers and a family life.”