Diversity and Inclusion Annual Review 2023
Our progress this year
Diversity and inclusion
Disability
Freshfields is committed to being a disability inclusive employer. We also aim to support our colleagues who are affected by disability, such as those with caring responsibilities, and to give all an opportunity to champion disability across the firm. We are constantly searching for ways to attract and progress our disabled talent.
Launched in the UK in 2019 and in Continental Europe in 2021, the firm set up an employee disability network, Freshfields Enabled, bringing together disabled colleagues and champions with the aim of working together to become a more inclusive workplace. In 2022, they created a working group, focusing on neurodiversity. On the International Day of Persons with Disabilities, the UK Enabled Network and the UK Mental Health Affinity Network hosted a panel discussion focusing on the connection between physical and mental health.
We partner with Business Disability Forum, a not-for-profit organisation who help to build disability smart organisations. Most recently, we have joined their Global Taskforce and Global Data Working Group, bringing together members that want to have a positive impact on the lives of disabled candidates, employees, and customers, wherever they are in the world. In 2023, we hosted their Disability Smart Awards in our 100 Bishopsgate office, celebrating the great work on disability inclusion that individuals and organisations are championing. We also joined the Valuable 500, committing at a senior level to disability inclusion globally.
In the UK, our Graduate Recruitment team work with My Plus Consulting, who advise on better attracting, retaining and progressing talented disabled graduates. With their help, we have put together a document focusing on interview best practice, providing a framework and an expression of how we endeavour to treat our people.
Helen Cooke, founder and CEO of My Plus Consulting, hosted two webinars on ‘Building Disability Confidence’ in partnership with Freshfields Enabled, with an introduction from the network's senior sponsors. The second session focused on allyship and how this fits with our Being Freshfields principles.
We have run training globally with Microsoft, who discussed and demonstrated features that Windows, Office and Teams has to offer, with regards to accessibility.
In our London office relocation to Bishopsgate, the design team worked with an independent access consultant, to ensure the new office offers the optimum accessibility for both employees and prospective employees. Current employees with disabilities formed part of various focus groups to ensure the needs of all were considered.
In 2022, we commissioned the Business Disability Forum to carry out a review of our approach to workplace adjustments for UK colleagues with disabilities, neurodivergent conditions, physical or mental health condition. As of the review, central projects team in collaboration with our Enabled Network implemented several initiatives with regards to workplace adjustments, assistive software and new training courses.
We have also joined PurpleSpace, are a founding partner of Neurodiversity in Business (NiB), and have also signed up to the UK Government’s Disability Confident Scheme.
Reena Parmar, Senior Knowledge Lawyer and Enabled Network Co-chair, says: “Understanding, being compassionate about, and engaging in dialogue about disability and accessibility can vastly change our and our colleagues’ day-to-day working experiences.”
Peter Allen, Partner and Co-Head of International Capital Markets and one of the network’s senior sponsors, says: “We see the Enabled Network as both vitally important in its own right and as a key part of the firm’s wider diversity and inclusion priorities, as we do all our employee-led networks. We seek to promote disability inclusion at Freshfields as part of our aim to ensure that everybody feels fully welcomed, that they belong and can achieve their full potential here.”
