Strategies on How to Support Women in the Workplace

• Women’s potential remains untapped due to unequal opportunities in hiring, raises and promotions.
• Gender-diverse workplaces yield varied perspectives, better decisions and greater returns.
• Supporting women enhances employee satisfaction and fosters a positive work environment.

Supporting Women in the Workplace

Women have entered most industries in the workplace at a tremendous pace in this century. However, they are far from supporting women in the workplace with equal opportunities, be it hiring, raises or promotions. In actuality, workplaces haven’t yet tapped into the potential of the female workforce. Gender diverse workplaces are shown to generate different perspectives, better decisions and ultimately greater returns. Supporting women in the workplace also increases employee engagement, employee retainment, job satisfaction and maintaining a positive work environment. Therefore, supporting women in the workplace is not only the right thing to do, but also the smart thing to do.

Creating an Inclusive Workplace for Women

It is imperative that female employees feel supported and seen in the workplace. Any given workspace can be transformed into a haven for female colleagues with conscious effort. A few ways to ensure the same are discussed below:

Open Communication

Research states that women rarely get credit for their original ideas. Women get interrupted a lot more compared to men. Therefore, they find it incredibly hard to communicate their viewpoints in workplaces because of aforementioned issues. Employers must make sure that women in their workplace have a platform to raise their concerns. If they’re interrupted, make sure to point it out and encourage them to continue. Championing women in the workplace also helps them be comfortable to provide feedback to the higher-ups in some capacity. They should have access to proper resources to voice their experiences. Creating a supportive work environment where women are valued and heard is inevitable in helping them thrive.

Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Initiatives (DEI Initiatives)

DEI or DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion and Belonging) Initiatives should emphasize on gendered aspects of diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging. If you encounter sexist remarks, make sure to react and intervene. It is integral to highlight that such behavior is unacceptable and has consequences to ensure that it is not repeated. It is only when everyone at the workplace are allies to each other that women in the workplace are supported.

Discrimination and Harassment

Women find it significantly harder to advance their careers because of discrimination and harassment in the workplace. According to the Gender Gap Report , 57% of working women have faced discrimination or harassment in some form or the other. Additionally, the report suggests working women who are financially vulnerable to be more likely to have such experiences.  Women who have experienced discrimination or harassment often refrain from reporting it because of trauma, shame or fear of isolation. Lack of awareness about accessible resources makes it harder. Employers must make sure there are clear and simple reactive processes. Implementing anti-discrimination and harassment policies that are integral to avoiding and dealing with such occurrences.

Providing Equal Opportunities

Ideally, women in the workplace should have equal access to all processes involved in their career. They should have equal opportunities in getting hired, receiving raises and promotions. However, that is hardly the case. Self-promotion is harder for women as most of them do not want to seem egocentric or annoying. However, their male counterparts do not seem to have that issue. Unfortunately, this translates to disproportionate chances of being promoted or given raises. Therefore, it is important to encourage female employees to speak up about their achievements and qualifications. Additionally, female employees can be encouraged to take up public speaking, entrepreneurial or leadership workshops. Support groups within the organization can provide peer support to female employees in need. To fully utilize their potential, female employees can be mentored by individuals in leadership positions. These initiatives can answer employer’s questions of how to support women in the workplace. 

Work-Life Balance and Flexibility

Working women often deal with double shifts wherein they are responsible for fulfilling both their professional and household responsibilities. 70% of women quit or change their jobs because they are unable to handle professional and household responsibilities simultaneously. Without proper work-life balance, it is easy to be burnt out. However, this issue can be resolved if they are provided with flexible work hours and remote working opportunities. Additionally, providing maternity and paternity leave can also ease their responsibilities. It is also desirable to provide affordable child care facilities to parents returning from maternity/paternity leave. These opportunities can empower women at the workplace. They can choose when and where to work, without compromising on their caretaking responsibilities.

Recognizing and Celebrating Achievements

Create a workplace environment that fosters growth and development of its female employees. Celebrate their achievements within the organization. This can be done through creative and innovative ways like hosting awards ceremonies or appreciation in company meetings. Recognition of their contributions to the organization can also be shown through simple gestures like thank-you notes and personalized gifts. Actively taking the effort to recognise employees’ hardwood not only keeps them happy but also boosts the organization’s morale. Additionally, events can be conducted wherein women in leadership roles or with diverse career paths are showcased. This helps inspire and empower female employees in the workplace to aspire for success.

Conclusion:

In conclusion, the question of how to support women in the workplace requires a multifaceted approach. Inclusive environments, equal opportunities, fostering growth and development helps achieve the same. Key strategies include promoting DEI initiatives, implementing fair hiring and promotion practices as well as recognizing their achievements. These strategies work together to truly support women in the workplace.

How to support women in the workplace?

The best way to support women at work is to provide means for open communication. This helps in them being able to voice their concerns. Additionally, one can provide flexible working hours, remote work arrangements, DEI initiatives among others. 

How can men support women at the workplace?

Men can support women at the workplace by recognizing their own gender biases and mindful listening. Including women in all the discussions that take place in the organization also helps tremendously. Recognize and give credit to their efforts and ideas.  

How do you empower working women?

You can empower women in the workplace by providing equal opportunities and practicing diverse hiring practices. Supporting pay equity and work-life balance can also be practiced. It is also advised to have zero tolerance for discrimination and harassment.