Research Articles and Reports

Posted April 2022

Abstract

This study explores the effect on mental health and life satisfaction of working in an automatable job. We utilise an Australian panel dataset (HILDA), and take a fixed effects linear regression approach, to relate a person being in automatable work to proxies of their wellbeing. Overall, we find evidence that automatable work has a small, detrimental impact on the mental health and life satisfaction of workers within some industries, particularly those with higher levels of job automation risk, such as manufacturing. Furthermore, we find no strong trends to suggest that any particular demographic group is disproportionately impacted across industries. These findings are robust to a variety of specifications. We also find evidence of adaptation to these effects after one-year tenure on the job, indicating a limited role for firm policy.

Read the report here

Posted April 2022

Abstract 

Individuals with common mental disorders (CMDs) such as depression and anxiety frequently have co-occurring long-term physical health conditions (LTCs) and this co-occurrence is associated with higher hospital utilisation. The writers examined the impact of psychological treatment delivered under the nationwide Improving Access to Psychological Therapies (IAPT) programme in England on hospital utilisation 12-months after the end of IAPT treatment. 

Read the report here

Posted October 2021

Abstract

The TRANSPARENT framework is the UK’s first cross-sector framework designed to remove the barriers blocking the progression of talented Black professional women in finance, professional services and big technology.

Read the report here

Posted September 2021

Abstract 

This framework includes insights from Singapore and truly brings the work of The Inclusion Initiative into a global light. Moreover, the topics discussed within this paper connect cross-continental approaches and ideas surrounding inclusion and presents practical guidance to corporations across the globe. 

Read the report here

Economica, posted 16 September 2021

Abstract

Occupational segregation and gender pay gaps remain large, while many of the constraints believed to be responsible for these gaps seem to have weakened over time.  As a potential solution to this puzzle, this research explores the possibility that women and men have different tastes for the content of the work that they do. 

We relate job satisfaction and job mobility to measures that proxy for the content of the work in an occupation, which we label ‘people’, ‘brains’ and ‘brawn’. The results suggest that women value jobs high on ‘people’ content and low on ‘brawn’. Men care about job content in a similar fashion, but have much weaker preferences. 

Read here

Posted June 2021

Abstract

To understand the headwinds and tailwinds that women experience when working in financial and professional services, the study undertook a listening tour speaking with 44 women at various stages in their career.

The objective of this study is to use this information to create a framework comprised of actions that a company can take to ensure that they retain and develop their most talented employees, including women.

Read the report here

LSE Public Policy Review, Volume 1-Issue 4- COVID-19 Special Issue, posted 3 May 2021

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has brought with it a debate around which skills will be the most valuable in its aftermath. This study discusses the relevance of social skills in this debate and presents new evidence that shows its necessity. Specifically, we focus on knowledge workers and highlight that the importance of social skills was increasing pre-COVID-19 for these workers and that this importance has increased further during the pandemic, particularly for those in management roles. This study has also emphasised that we are at the beginning of the learning curve in understanding how social skills can be taught effectively to adults, and in particular knowledge workers. Establishing this evidence base is particularly important as governments around the world reconsider their skills agenda as a way to build up their economies post COVID-19.

Read here

Research for the World, posted 12 January 2021

Abstract

Inclusion doesn’t just help individuals, it has financial benefits for firms, but innovation and creativity are needed if equality of opportunities is to be achieved. Grace Lordan leads The Inclusion Initiative, which aims to help the financial sector identify what will work for them.

Read here

Posted November 2020

Abstract

To set the research agenda for the first phase of TII, we embarked on a piece of qualitative research that involved interviewing senior leaders in TII’s first priority area, Financial and Professional Services, to learn their beliefs about best practice in terms of improving inclusion at the firm level, and the obstacles that stand in the way of progress. With these insights at hand, we set a research agenda for TII that will tackle the most commonly cited obstacles, drawing on current insights from the behavioural science literature. The Inclusion in the City paper outlines what this agenda is. The primary aim being to inspire firms to adopt some of the ideas in this paper for their own in-house inclusion agendas, with their own people.

 Read the report here