Senior managers in the public sector have privately conceded that staff risk becoming overwhelmed by 'diversity fatigue' if compelled to acknowledge an excessive number of awareness days and religious festivals.
A Calendar of 225 Events
The scale of the issue was highlighted by an internal calendar prepared for employees at one government body, which listed a staggering 225 Equality, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) events. This extensive schedule ranged from religious observances like Nirvana Day, marking Buddha's death, to modern awareness campaigns such as 'Aromantic Spectrum Awareness Week'.
The calendar blended ancient festivals, including the pagan harvest celebration of Lughnasadh, with significant American dates. These comprised the anniversary of George Floyd's killing, which ignited the Black Lives Matter movement, and Juneteenth, the federal holiday commemorating the end of slavery.
Managers Urged to Adopt 'Less is More' Approach
To combat potential disengagement, managers at The Pensions Regulator were advised to prioritise only a select few key events each month. An internal report, obtained by the Daily Mail, emphasised "the need to maximise impact, avoid oversaturation and EDI fatigue through a maximum of 2-3 key EDI events per month."
During a meeting reviewing the EDI calendar, one member supported this streamlined strategy. The report confirmed that the 2024 calendar would concentrate on core topics like religion and belief, aiming to educate people managers on the most important holy days for each major faith.
For Christianity, this focus was identified as Christmas Day. The report stipulated the need for a comprehensive communications package, including a briefing for managers delivered a month in advance to guide them on supporting colleagues.
Internal Events and External Criticism
An email from the pension regulator's EDI lead outlined previous internal activities, such as National Inclusion Week, which covered topics from the diversity pay-gap to challenging 'anti-wokeness'. It also promoted external events like a 'piers and queers history walk' in Brighton. A section on Holocaust Memorial Day was prefaced with a trigger warning.
The initiative has drawn criticism from taxpayer groups. William Yarwood, media campaign manager of the TaxPayers' Alliance, stated: "Reassuringly, many public sector workers are as sick of having the woke agenda shoved down their throats as taxpayers are."
He added that a minority in such roles create difficulties for colleagues with endless rules and events, suggesting the regulator should take its own advice and drastically reduce its EDI agenda.
Regulator's Commitment to Diversity
In response, a spokesperson for The Pensions Regulator said: "Diversity drives better outcomes for savers, and we are committed to leading by example as a fair and inclusive employer."
The spokesperson confirmed the body is working with the pensions industry to share best practice on inclusive governance and will publish a refreshed EDI strategy for 2026-2029 early next year.
