Businesses thrive when everyone in the workplace is equally included, respected and valued. It’s not just a nice-to-have - it's a business imperative to have a well-functioning team where everyone can turn up and do their best work, regardless of their protected characteristics and without anxiety related to how their identity will be perceived.

When your origins are publicly questioned in an otherwise homogeneous environment, it implicitly affirms to everyone in the conversation that you are a guest of sorts; that you don’t belong here like they do. This is the opposite of inclusion.

Burnout, mental exhaustion and chronic stress are sweeping through the UK TV Industry workforce. In March 2023, an anonymous open letter to all UK broadcasters and production companies began to circulate on social media; calling for a set of clauses to be put in place to better support freelancers -  the group that often bear the brunt of overtime, budget cuts and tight deadlines. 

It’s clear from the letter, and recent findings from The Looking Glass report ‘22 and The Time Project that an intervention is needed that goes further than the occasional lieu days or tips on resilience and wellbeing.