Providing safety for employees allows both the company and the workforce to thrive. As our society is becoming more conscious of the patriarchal biases we are chained to, industries are evolving and developing policies that ensure workplace safety for women. Women should feel safe at work, and putting in the effort to establish proper workplace safety measures is imperative to improve employee morale and productivity.
Awareness is Key
Male and female employees should play equal roles in cultivating an environment that promotes women’s safety. It’s essential to educate employees on their rights so they have a clear definition of when they are being treated inappropriately. Companies should also have policies in place to protect their employees from dangers like sexual harassment and discrimination.
Empower Women
It’s important to encourage women to pursue opportunities at every level. The role of the company here is to see if women are being given the same opportunities as men. Women have been known to have a glass ceiling that prevents them from climbing the corporate ladder. The glass ceiling is a metaphorical barrier that makes it difficult for women and minorities to be promoted to higher-level positions. To determine this, examine the gender of those in managerial positions. If the results show otherwise, then check out succession planning to include women.
Let Women’s Voices Be Heard
One way for women to express themselves is through learning sessions. Learning sessions spearheaded by women allow them to be seen and heard. These learning sessions are also great ways to address current issues and raise concerns in a less intimidating environment.
Townhall meetings are also helpful company-wide events that promote dialogue between upper management and employees.
Don’t Do It Like Hollywood
We’ve heard many Hollywood actresses fighting for equal pay in the industry. A-list celebrities like Ellen Pompeo, Jennifer Lawrence, and Natalie Portman, surprisingly, don’t get paid equally as their male counterparts.
Gender pay gaps continue to penetrate through today’s society. Women shouldn’t have to feel like their work doesn’t equate to as much as men solely because of gender. Pay structures should be based on skills and contribution.
Celebrate Women in Any Way You Can
Engagement programs are good ways to celebrate women. As Women’s Month is coming to a close, it doesn’t mean that we stop celebrating women. We celebrate women on Mother’s Day, Single Mother’s Day, Single Working Women’s Day, Breast Cancer Awareness Month, or the International Day for the Elimination of Violence Against Women. We celebrate women all year round and continue to raise awareness on the issues that surround them.
In the words of Richard Branson, “People are no different from flowers. If you water them, they flourish. If you are not nice to them, they shrivel up.” If you’re working for a woman, working with a woman, or you have women working for you, you have a responsibility to make them feel seen, heard, and validated. And just like flowers, they will bloom.
