Contracted-out workers

When pushing for employers to undertake risk assessments, it is important to remember groups who may not be actually employed by the main employer, such as cleaners and security staff. These groups often have a higher proportion of BAME workers than the direct employees.

At National Archives, the unions persuaded the management to pay extra attention in their “Return to the Office” risk assessment to the recently privatised security function, which has a higher proportion of BAME individuals than among employees. While this was agreed by management, the unions are also concerned about other outsourced groups working on the premises.