Gender equality is a fundamental human right and women empowerment is a way of achieving that. Women empowerment, especially at workplaces is essential because it contributes to the social development of families, and communities. However, according to a recent study conducted by the World Economic Forum, only 32.2% are in senior leadership positions, which is almost 10% lower than the actual representation of women in the workplace.
Slowly but surely, companies have started preaching equality in the workplace and most of them are only beginning to register women and their considerable potential for leadership positions. Here are some ideas that can speed up the process.
-
Minimizing Pay Disparities
The gender pay gap is a big drawback when it comes to empowering women at work and structural conditions such as cultural bias, societal assumptions, lack of progress chances at the workplace, etc. Women prefer to work part-time more, which means fewer women work at the better-paid departments of their companies. These conditions aid women in being promoted to management positions less often and earning a lower wage salary. As a result, a gender pay gap exists and in 2023, women in the US earn 17% less than male workers.
So if you notice gender pay gaps in your own business, make it a priority to mitigate and rectify this, which is by far the only way to move forward from this social injustice. Make equal work and equal pay your motto at the workplace.
-
Flexible Work Schedule and Models
Resistance to flexible work hours and schedules makes it difficult for women who already do most of the household work as well, along with taking care of their professional lives. Many of these women face forces against their career advancements due to their family duties. Sometimes, women are not even considered due to wrong assumptions about their availability.
One thing that the pandemic has shown us in a positive light is that a flexible work schedule is the future of work-life balance. You as an employer can use this to help and empower women at your workplace by allowing them flexibility in preparing work schedules and models, staying away from the traditional 9-5 work model. You can also ensure an easy re-entry of mothers at the workplace after maternity leave along with discussing with your female employees about possible career advancements often.
-
Diversity and Inclusivity Statement
From time to time, studies have proven that a maintained gender ratio at the workplace, and the management position will cater to higher sales. Not only that, but they will enjoy a more satisfied workforce, more skilled employees, a stronger work ethic and loyalty, and a more positive brand image.
So make sure you lay out a message of inclusivity by increasing female employees and managers. This will make you more attractive as an employer and you will get a higher and better candidate pool. Ensure that you are orienting the business philosophy around the core values of inclusivity and diversity.
-
Necessary Open Communication
Making sure that female workers are making equal participation in the workplace world requires employers to be aware of how the employees communicate with each other and their management.
So to promote equal opportunities for your female workers and empowerment at work, make sure to discuss communication topics with your employees. This is the only way to define what makes communication good and effective in the workplace. This will also lead to cultivating an atmosphere of trust for the female workers.
-
Professional Development
Increasing the employees’ skill set by ensuring professional development is one of the best ways to support female empowerment at work. You can add different language models, training courses, and management training for your employees and encourage the female workers to take them. This will not only advance their skill set but make them more self-confident about their positions and capabilities.
By offering your female workers these, you can take a good step into this journey of establishing gender equality.
