It is evident that women are no less than men. They can be the decision-makers not only at home but also at the workplace. But, does the work environment really allow them to multi-task without being stereotyped or discriminated? The workplace is designed for men, by men, and hence leaving no space for women. This often leads to discrepancies, which in turn leaves a woman’s work unrecognized. Such workplaces often do not use their employees’ talents and potential to the fullest. How to make a business more women-friendly? Is your office one of them? Check the following points to make sure your workplace is not creating any such discrepancies.
How to Make a Business More Women-Friendly :
Break The Glass Ceiling and Promote Talent
A gender stereotype is the biggest problem in the world. Be it any profession, women are seen as second class citizens. Their work, potential, and talents are often not recognized by the organization. This thickens the glass ceiling and restricts women from pursuing their dreams. Shatter the glass ceiling practice at your workplace and promote talent. Let the deserving climb the ladder and meet the organization’s goals. The promotion of gender equality will make sure that your organization is using the employees to their full. This in turn would increase the profit.
Support Female Leaders, Invest in Their Ideas
Organizations tend to overlook the ideas offered by their female employees. Mostly because people think that women cannot do business. If people at your organization think the same, your organization definitely needs filtering. Firstly females are as much capable as men. Respect and support their ideas. Allow potential women to lead teams. Support your leader irrespective of their gender. Invest and work on the ideas rather than dismissing them. We’ve seen what wonders a female leader can do if given the right opportunity and chance.
Hiring Room Must be Women-Friendly
Your hiring team says a lot about your organization. Time and again, men have not only dominated but have also been the face of business. If the hiring team usually only has men as the interviewer, then this makes women skeptical about organizations. They doubt whether or not their voice will be heard. Having a woman on the hiring team would increase the scope of more female employees. It would also open doors for healthy discussions and debates. Allow new ideas to flow and this will help in the selection process for there will be two minds. This would also help decrease the gender biases.
Design a Gender Neutral Office
Offices have been designed for men as women were not seen in the workplace. Now, times have changed. But one thing that remains the same is the design of the office. Some reasons why women may not feel comfortable in the office are as follows:
- Physical convenience like no proper washroom facility for women. No private room for breastfeeding. These factors work as restrictions for women.
- Dress codes that were designed while keeping men in mind. Formal dress codes can be an inconvenience for many women. It is mandatory for women to wear heels to work in some companies. Such dress codes can be harsh for women.
Equal Work, Equal Pay
Last but not the least; the pay gap is one of the major issues faced by women. Women and men are treated differently. For the same amount of work, women are underpaid. Despite doing the same or at times even more amount of work, women are not paid equally. Correct your office policies if you are doing the same. Don’t let gender biases rule the pay. Such practices also limit profitability. Reward the deserving. These were a few points that often increase gender issues in the workplace. An organization with diverse employees must keep in mind that; providing employees with comfortable ambiance, respect, and working as one, will increase your productivity. Businesses should always be women-friendly.
