Principles And Practices in Dealing with Challenges Faced by Women at Their Workplace

by Team Iamsafeatwork

22-05-2023

Safety

People are empowered to develop their abilities and skills in a culturally diverse workplace. A wide range of ideas and knowledge allows individuals to learn from a more diverse set of colleagues. It can also improve problem-solving ability, as well as happiness and productivity. This culture of invention and encouragement to contribute company success in an environment where every opinion was acknowledged. Here are some of the most important sorts of diversity traits to consider.

• Gender – women are nowadays contributing a larger share of the workforce than ever before. However, there is still a gender disparity in salaries and a low ratio of women in leadership positions.

• Race and ethnicity – As ethnic and racial identities change, standardised forms containing ethnic groups fall short. Addressing up discussions about race and ethnicity among employees will helps to improve cultural diversity.

• LGBTQ – The LGBTQ community is diverse in terms of backgrounds, experiences, and challenges. As an LGBT employer, serious consideration must be given to a strategy for eliminating prejudice.

Discrimination based on gender- Women are frequently paid less than males for performing the same tasks, and women are less likely to advance to top positions. Pay disparity: Women frequently face a gender wage gap, in which they receive less than their male colleagues for doing the same or comparable work. Factors such as discrimination in employment, assumptions, and stereotypes can all have an impact on this difference. For instance, A new revelation citing an internal letter to Amazon’s human resources department alleges abuse of women within Amazon’s Prime membership division in June 2021, including but not limited to harassment and disproportionate growth prospects for men at the corporation.

Maternity unfair treatment- Women that become pregnant and take maternity leave might face demotions, restricted tasks and possibly terminating them. This type of discrimination is prohibited in many nations, but it continues to occur in a variety of workplaces. For instance, The All-India Democratic Woman’s Association sharply criticised Indian Bank’s “anti-women” policy that cited not to appoint qualified women applicants who are more than 12 weeks pregnant in June 2022.

Sexual assault- Women are frequently subjected to inappropriate sexual assaults and accusations in the office. They may experience unwanted sexual advances, inappropriate statements, or behaviours at their workplace. This can lead to a toxic work atmosphere, affecting their professional and emotional well-being. For instance, Equitable Food Initiative, a capacity-building and certification organisation that collaborates with producers, farmworkers, retailers, and consumer advocacy organisations, launched its yearly campaign to raise awareness of sexual harassment in the workplace, particularly in agriculture, in April 2023.

There is a lack of representation- In many industries, women have fewer opportunities within positions of leadership. They might encounter an absence of participation in positions with authority as well as business sectors traditionally dominated by men. This unequal representation has the potential to prolong gender inequity and limit women’s opportunities.

To overcome these issues, a number of concepts and practises can be applied, such as:

Developing a collaborative culture- Organisations should foster a culture in which all employees, regardless of gender, are treated equally and fairly. This can be accomplished by creating and implementing laws prohibiting discrimination and harassment, as well as by providing training on unconscious prejudice. For instance, Publicis Groupe Central & Eastern Europe the commencement of a project to embrace gender equity in March 2023, in accordance with this year’s International Women’s Day theme. The year-long initiative, organised around one mission and three main initiatives, will be launched all over Publicis Groupe’s offices in Central and Eastern Europe.

Increasing the number of women employees at leadership positions- Organisations must actively promote women to positions of leadership. This can be accomplished by establishing mentorship and sponsorship programmes, as well as providing them training and development opportunities. For instance, in October 2022, The National Bank of Kuwait has already launched its worldwide women leadership initiative “NBK RISE”, a first-of-its-kind programme intended to raise women leaders to higher levels of leadership.

Providing job opportunities that are flexible in nature- To help employees in balancing their personal and professional lives, organisations should provide flexible work arrangements such as remote and flexitime. For instance, in 2022, Singapore’s third-largest bank, UOB, provides 200 employments in Singapore tailored specifically to the needs of women who demand more flexibility at work due to household responsibilities. Mothers of young children, women who must care for the elderly at home, and those who want to gradually return to full-time work after an extended professional leave are among those that qualify.

So, women can overcome workplace problems and achieve success by applying these principles and practises. Ensuring the safety of women at work business organisations create a safe and inclusive environment, implementing robust policies, and supporting women through awareness and training campaigns. Women safety is likely to accomplish goals and contribute their talents and expertise to the organization’s growth and success.