We are delighted to be hosting the 1^st Accommodating Diversity in the Workplace Conference at the University of Reading, UK on 19-20 June 2023. The conference will be hybrid so it will be possible to attend part or all of the conference online.

This interdisciplinary conference is aimed at academics, practitioners and employers interested in issues of diversity and inclusion in the workplace and their implications for workplace practice. This year topics include women’s health, the gender pay gap, access to elite occupations, parental leave, leadership and disability.

There is no conference registration fee. Lunch and refreshments will be provided for those attending in person.

Registration for in person participation is now closed for catering purposes but you can still register for online participation here until the 15th June.

You can find the programme and abstracts of the talks here. The conference starts at 12 on Monday 19th June and closes on the 20th June at 4pm.

Our keynote speaker is Dr Krystal Wilkinson, Reader in Human Resources Management, Manchester Metropolitan University

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Dr Krystal Wilkinson is Reader (Associate Professor) in Human Resource Management and Acting Deputy Director of the Centre for Decent Work and Productivity at Manchester Metropolitan University. Her research focuses on the work-life interface, women’s health and wellbeing at work.  Recent research projects have focused on solo-living staff; complex fertility journeys (including those going through fertility treatment, experiencing pregnancy loss and involuntary childlessness); perinatal mental illness (in pregnancy and post-birth); and women’s health more broadly.   She has published in Work, Employment and Society; Human Resource Management Journal; Gender, Work and Organisation; and The International Journal of Human Resource Management.  She is currently editing a book on ‘Work-life Inclusion: Broadening perspectives across the life-course’ and has written numerous book chapters for the CIPD, as well as being part of the CIPD National Examinations team.   She is passionate about knowledge exchange and is working with various stakeholders to raise awareness and create resources, including the CIPD, charities and employers.  Her research has been featured in the media and trade press including the Wall Street Journal, the BBC and People Management Magazine.  Prior to studying for her PhD, Krystal held operational Human Resource Management roles in different industries, including construction, retail and hospitality. 

And you will have the chance to hear the first results from our  ‘Maternal well-being, infant feeding and return to paid work decisions‘ project funded by the Nuffield Foundation. We also are delighted to have presentations relating to two other Nuffield Foundation funded projects: Inequalities in access to elite professions and Designing inclusive remote and hybrid working to support disabled workers.

For details on travelling to the University of Reading and the conference venue please see here. For more campus maps and details on reaching the campus you can also see the Visiting the University page here.

If you have queries, please contact the local organisers: Professor Sarah Jewell (s.l.jewell@reading.ac.uk) or Professor Simonetta Longhi (s.longhi@reading.ac.uk)