Opportunity for positive change after u003ca href=u0022https://www.onthetools.tvu0022 target=u0022_blanku0022 rel=u0022noopeneru0022u003eOn The Toolsu003c/au003e industry event sparked outrage
Industry leaders recently gathered to discuss the fallout from the On The Tools Awards 2024, where women dressed in skin-tight, hi-vis jumpsuits were hired to help promote the event.
Following the event, EDI expert Harriet Waley-Cohen published a LinkedIn post criticising the decision to hire women dressed in “hyper sexualised outfits designed around construction safety kit”.
In the post, titled ‘Sexist WTF of the Week’, Waley-Cohen revealed that a group of whistleblowers, including men and women from the industry, were “appalled by the regressive, sexist messaging” at the event.
Responding to the backlash, On The Tools co-founder and CEO Lee Wilcox posted a public apology, admitting “this was a f#*k up and we’re sorry”.
“We really do believe in our mission and we really do want to make positive change, but we agree, outside looking in, this doesn’t look like a business trying to do that,” Wilcox said.
“We always aim to empower women, which is why I’m personally really really sorry to anyone we’ve offended.
“Those who know me, know this isn’t what I’m about, and as the leader of the business our culture and beliefs are a reflection of me directly. Which is why this is on me.”
‘Sexualised, devalued and unsafe’
To discuss the fallout, Wilcox joined Waley-Cohen and Faye Allen, EDI champion and director at construction advisory firm J.S. Held, for an online debate.
During the discussion, Waley-Cohen said that many women are leaving construction or are wary of joining the industry. She explained this was largely because of “the situation they face around being sexualised, devalued [or] feeling unsafe in the workplace”.
“They’re either moving to slightly different careers than the ones they originally wanted to pursue, or they’re leaving the industry completely,” she said.
Allen, who has conducted extensive research on the experiences of women working in construction, added: “We have to make sure people understand their own misogyny, because women have it as well as men. That [is] why some of the people in that room [at the On The Tools event] just shrugged it off and thought ‘oh, it’s alright’.”
Committed to postive change
Construction and EDI leaders have now pledged their support to help On The Tools improve its strategic approach to promoting EDI in the industry.
As part of this commitment, Mark Harrison, head of EDI at the Chartered Institute of Building (CIOB), has agreed to participate in a focus group that is being established to deliver positive change following the sexism row.
Harrison commented: “Given the people and skills gaps in the sector, and the evident underrepresentation of women in construction, it is crucial that the industry makes a sustained effort to become more attractive and welcoming to all.”
