?International Women's Day?

The theme of this #InternationalwomensDay2024 is 'Inspire Inclusion' ??. This highlights the importance of celebrating diversity in the workplace and beyond, ensuring that everyone is empowered to achieve their best.

At KaneHR, we are incredibly proud of the women in our team. HR is one of the few fields of business where there is likely to be more women than men, so we know first-hand the value and innovation that women can bring to any business.

However, with our ‘HR hat ?? on’ we recognise that more needs to be done across many industries to reach gender equity.

Gender Pay Gap Reporting is one tangible way for companies to review their inclusivity across gender, but with concerning articles often making the headlines including stats such as:

“The Trade Union Congress (TUC) analysis reveals that the gender pay gap currently stands at 14.3%, meaning women must work 52 days – almost two months – before they stop working ‘for free’.” Full article here

There is clearly a long way for us to go.

Laws prohibiting gender discrimination in employment are widely acknowledged as a fundamental part of employment rights for women across the UK, however they must be supported by proactive and practical procedures.

Employers should be playing a key role in promoting diversity, inclusion, and gender equality within their organisations. Here are some of our top tips for creating a more inclusive work environment:

o?? Job Descriptions:

• Inclusivity in the workplace can start before an employee has even joined your team. Using a ‘blind’ recruitment process, can help to reduce gender bias, and using gender neutral terminology can ensure you get well rounded applications, therefore providing greater opportunities for women joining the workplace.

o??Policies:

• Have you taken a look at your family leave policies lately? A policy that includes enhanced pay can be an effective way of retaining your female talent and demonstrating that you value them throughout their employment with you.

o??Flexible Working:

• It is widely accepted, that a flexible working environment benefits everyone, but especially those who have dependents, which to a larger degree affects women in the workplace. With new flexible working legislation from April 2024, now is the best time to review your organisations’ processes.

o??Menopause:

• Concerns around menopause are faced by many women, and those concerns may cross through to their working life. Education is key here, and training sessions are an important first step – just make sure you include your male staff in training too!

o??Leadership:

• Having women in positions of power and leadership within your organisation can be really inspiring to other employees, not to mention the innovation and different perspectives female leaders can bring. Have you considered your approach to succession planning and if there is a gender bias? If not, the results may help you to foster a more inclusive leadership culture.

Information in this article is a guide only. We recommend that you seek professional advice before taking or refraining from any action. No liability is accepted by KaneHR for any action taken or not taken as a result of this publication.

If you are interested in getting tailored advice for any of the above tips or general advice on how to 'Inspire Inclusion' in your business, please reach out to us at [email protected]. Our team of experts would be happy to help!??