Sarah Cardell, Executive Director of the Office of Competition and Markets (left) at the Spring Enforcers Summit at the Justice Department in Washington Photo: Al Drago
The taxpayer-sponsored watchdog, accused of failing to do its job properly, has urged its 900 officials to spend half a day every week engaging in internal equality, diversity and inclusiveness events, according to the Telegraph.
Competition and Markets Authority (CMA) has published internal guidelines encouraging employees to use 10 percent of their work time to participate in groups and activities that promote “an inclusive culture and work environment where everyone can thrive and give their all to work.” “. The Authority also operates a “hybrid work model” in which employees are encouraged to spend up to 60% of their time working from home.
One minister said they were “amazed” by the decision to encourage employees to spend 10 percent of their time outside of their core job. The Minister added: “Many of us have filed competition complaints with the CMA and now we know why we are not getting a response. They are known throughout Whitehall as the most inefficient and useless organization. The chairman needs to seriously pull himself together.”
The CMA declined to say whether Sarah Cardell, its chief executive, whose total remuneration reached £245,000 before she took over the body last year, was among those taking the rules.
Kemi Badenoch
The oversight body, led by Kemi Badenoch, Business Secretary, exists to help consumers, businesses and the UK economy by curbing bad faith and keeping markets competitive. But the watchdog has come under fire in recent years for taking an increasingly hardline stance on technology absorption, which is not conducive to growth.
Earlier this month, Chancellor Jeremy Hunt warned senior competition regulator officials that they should “understand their broader responsibilities” after Microsoft attacked the watchdog for blocking the game's mega-merger. All regulators are required to comply with the legal obligation to promote economic growth under a law passed by the coalition government in 2015.
The Office of Competition and Markets is overseen by Kemi Badenoch, Business Secretary. Photo: Kirsty Wigglesworth/AP
The CMA document, distributed to applicants for Merger Investigation Officer positions as well as applicants for other positions, states: “The CMA is committed to promoting equality of opportunity and values each person's contribution to the job. Our HR accreditations, networks and employee groups help promote our commitment to ensuring that all employees enjoy an inclusive culture and work environment where everyone can thrive and give their all.
“We want our employees supported us and helped us make real and sustainable change, and we believe we can make that happen…by proactively empowering employees to participate in networks, groups and projects that advance our organizational priorities.”
“ The CMA recently introduced a corporate contribution code that encourages employees to use 10 percent of their work time by participating in these areas of our work.”
Race and Rainbow Networks
The outline summary includes a list of relevant projects and groups. Examples include Inner Race, Rainbow, Multifaith and Christian Networks, and the Wellbeing, Inclusion, Diversity and Equity Steering Group and Affirmative Action Steering Group. The full list also includes broader projects such as the organization's Corporate Action Plan, which emphasizes the promotion of equity, diversity and inclusion.
Responding to a question about the scheme, the CMA initially stated that “currently no there is a policy that would advise employees on the amount of time they can spend specifically on diversity and inclusive activities.”
After The Telegraph highlighted the document outlining the scheme and list of groups, it was removed from job postings and the CMA released a revised statement saying: “We fully support employees undertaking activities that contribute to the creation of the CMA – an attractive a place to work that benefits across the UK.
“The CMA allows employees to spend up to 10% of their work time on corporate contribution-related activities such as recruiting, membership of official CMA committees and participation in staff networks, as well as diversity and inclusion”.
This policy appears to apply to all employees and is advertised to candidates for new positions, including Supervisor positions up to £38,000 and Assistant Director positions up to £80,000.
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Last year, CMA insisted on continuing its participation in the Stonewall Champions of Diversity program despite political pressure to withdraw from the scheme due to its value for money.
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