INTERNATIONAL WOMEN'S DAY
March 8th is International Women’s Day, and this year's focus is ‘Let's Inspire Inclusion’ because in the words of IWD.com ‘when we inspire others to understand and value women's inclusion, we forge a better world’.
As a female-led business driven by people and culture, we're proud supporters of International Women’s Day and everything it stands for - striving to provide equal opportunities for all employees, creating a culture free from discrimination and bias.
The IWD campaign each year celebrates the progress that has been made towards gender equality, it also highlights there's still a long way to go. The gender pay gap still stands at over 14% (TUC) and it widens dramatically for women who have children, are part of a minority ethnic group, or are disabled.
By not properly valuing and supporting women in the workplace, employers are missing out on a huge pool of talent.
The benefits of an inclusive workplace
An inclusive team fosters a rich tapestry of ideas and innovation, ultimately leading to greater productivity, engagement, and success in today's diverse and dynamic business landscape. When every team member feels valued and respected, they are more likely to contribute their unique insights and talents, leading to better problem-solving and decision-making.
Yes, gender equality in the workplace benefits women. But it massively contributes to the overall success of each organisation by leveraging the full potential of all employees.
5 ways SME’s can promote diversity in the workplace
Encourage diversity in hiring
Mix things up when bringing new people on board. Seek out candidates from different backgrounds and walks of life, including candidates of all gender identities. Make sure your hiring process is fair and open to everyone and write job ads that make everyone feel welcome to apply.
Offer flexible working
Recognise that everyone's circumstances are different. Providing flexible working options can help employees achieve a better work-life balance and contribute effectively.
Create opportunities for growth
Provide mentorship programs, professional development opportunities and learning interventions to support the career advancement of all employees. Encourage individuals of all genders to pursue leadership roles within the business.
Promote equal pay
Ensure pay equity across your business, it doesn’t matter how big or small your business is. Conduct an annual salary review to identify and address any gender pay gaps.
Develop clear and inclusive policies
Make sure your policies are available to all of your employees. Consider training on discrimination, how to recognise it, and how to report it. Educating employees on discrimination and unconscious bias is one of the first steps to preventing discrimination in the workplace.
The Little HR Department is here to help
If you are interested in implementing more inclusive practices in your business we can help you review your goals, current policies and help you build a diversity and inclusion strategy.
We should probably mention we’ve recently delivered Unconscious Bias training to some of our clients which we’ve had brilliant feedback on. If this sounds interesting, give us a shout.
