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HR and diversity professionals.
2012 might have been economically miserable and very wet, but in other ways it was a great year. If you believe, as I do, that career and family are not mutually exclusive then 2012 felt like a tipping point.
Is there a good business case for investing time and money helping talented women through glass ceilings? Well, we know there is. In 2012 it felt like the other believers moved from being the significant minority to being the small majority. That represents enormous progress.
If Hilary Devey, the biggest dinosaur in the Dragons' Den, can be converted, then something must have changed.
A year of work+family highlights
Here's a summary of my ten favourite events, people or changes that were either very important; very interesting; or simply made me sit up and laugh or cry with frustration. My full review is available for download.
- The Church and Female Bishops - Should women have been allowed to become Bishops?
- Flexible Working and Shared Parental Leave - Bringing Men and Women a step closer to raising children equally.
- Female Leadership from Down Under - Strong Female leaders or great public relations?
- A Word about Childcare - Costs, power struggles and a new leader.
- Addison Lee - A crazy experiment, some brilliant PR and bringing your children to work.
- Headlines from Across the Pond - New and radical perspectives on pregnancy, maternity leave and having it all.
- Awards in Abundance - Too many different awards diluting the market or recongition where it is deserved?
- A Word about Eldercare - A growing concern for an aging population and how forward thinking employers are learning to adapt.
- Role Models in Politics - Who has stepped up and who's been knocked back this year?
- The EU - They came they saw they were sent packing
And there you have it; My 10 highlights of 2012.
If I'd been allowed 11 then it would have to be Michael Kenny, the first man to get the full Norland treatment in 120 years would have made the grade. I'll keep an eye on his progress in any case.
Ben Black
