Eversheds on eggshells over Easter treats
Eversheds’ plan to present its staff with Easter eggs had to be put on hold after concerns that it might offend employees who do not celebrate the Christian festival.
The firm’s diversity and equality policy states that the firm is “determined to create a working environment which […] is free from any form of discrimination […] within which all individuals are treated with respect, fairness and courtesy”.
The ethos prompted a debate over whether some individuals might feel discriminated against should they receive an egg. However, the firm decided that it would press ahead with the perk. A spokesperson said: “All staff have worked very hard during the recent difficult trading environment and distributing Easter eggs is just a small way of saying thank you.
“Concerns were raised that the firm shouldn’t be seen to be favouring one religious group or cultural tradition over another. However, Eversheds is committed to equality and inclusivity and celebrates a number of festivals reflecting the diverse composition of our workforce worldwide.
“We feel that while not all of our employees celebrate Easter, they will understand the gesture.”
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Readers' comments (28)
Anonymous | 8-Apr-2010 6:12 pm
Free chocolate! What's not to like?
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Anonymous | 9-Apr-2010 1:02 pm
That eggs represent the rollowing away of the stone is a myth invented by Christianity when they appropriated yet another forner heathen tradition.
It is *not* the 'real' reason why eggs are exchanged at Eostre...
Anyway, I got an egg too, but I'm sure I'll overlook the potential offence...
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Anonymous | 9-Apr-2010 5:26 pm
Eversheds have lost the plot on everything really - they are pretending to be diversity conscious but hardly follow those rules in real life.
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Storm in an egg cup | 13-Apr-2010 3:39 am
I'm coming to this "debate" late, I know, but really, judging by the calibre of some of the comments, one would have been forgiven for thinking that this was the Daily Mail's bonkers comments section.
Read the article. Eversheds wanted to give staff something for Easter. They wondered whether it might be misconstrued, but decided to go ahead anyway. "Political correctness"? Not at all. The desire to take into consideration the sensibilities of people around you, on the basis that we are not all the same, sounds like sensible HR practice to me.
I no longer live in the UK either, but I am not pig-headed enough to associate that decision (which is work-related) with non-stories like this one.
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Anonymous | 13-Apr-2010 12:24 pm
why can't they just see that they are giving away chocolate in the spring time? since when did chocloate form part of a religion?
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John | 13-Apr-2010 3:43 pm
Only lawyers could get themselves into a tizwoz about such trivia. Do they realise how much the outside world is laughing at them for tying themselves up in knots over diversity? Anyway, at least Eversheds gave out the Easter eggs in the end.
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Anonymous | 13-Apr-2010 3:53 pm
No one commented in the line "All staff have worked very hard during the recent difficult trading environment and distributing Easter eggs is just a small way of saying thank you."
What I'd find offensive is an Easter Egg as my bonus.
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Anonymous | 15-Apr-2010 3:25 pm
Give me chocolate anytime!
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