March 22, 2021, by HR Search & Rescue Diversity is one of the most widely discussed topics today and has become a top objective for many organizations in the United States. Companies are aware that it’s important to strive to make their personnel reflect the “melting pot” society that we live in. Of course, the term “diversity” can refer to several different personal characteristics such as race, religion, nationality, and gender. Here is a close look at the last of these —- gender diversity —- and exactly what it means in the workplace. What Is Gender Diversity? In simple terms, gender diversity is the fair representation of all genders in an organization. However, this goes beyond ensuring that there is a relatively even number of male and female employees in your company and that men and women in the same roles are compensated equally. Statistics also show that gender diversity has many benefits. According to management consulting firm McKinsey, gender-diverse companies are 15% more likely to witness higher financial returns relative to their respective national industry medians. Here are some important questions you should ask yourself about your organization and steps you can take to become more gender-inclusive. Transcend Gender Stereotypes It’s more than reasonable to say that, in the 21st century, male and female workers should be treated equally and have access to the same professional opportunities. Nevertheless, this is not always the case in many workplaces. Sometimes, women who take initiative and delegate tasks are viewed as “bossy” and “unpleasant,” whereas men who display this same conduct are called “leaders” and “confident.” Similarly, certain HR executives sometimes consider hiring women (especially young ones) to be a risk because they may need to take time off after having children. The reality is that not all women want to have children, and even those that do become pregnant can still be highly productive after giving birth. Eliminating these stereotypes can make more of an impact on your organization than you may imagine. Make Sure Every Voice Is Heard In any organization, every person should always be allowed to have a voice. With regards to attaining true gender diversity, this means being equally attentive not only to men and women, but also to transgender and non-binary employees. Are these individuals treated the same as men in meetings? Are they given a chance to express their ideas and concerns? There should never be any type of bias towards any gender in the workplace. Ensure Fair Promotion Practices How are employees in your organization chosen for promotions? Do your organization’s executives and other leaders have equal contact with every worker? These are some of the questions you should ask yourself regarding your organization’s promotion practices. To answer these questions, you can begin by analyzing the makeup of your hiring board. If only one gender is represented on this committee, this may potentially lead to bias during the interview and/or promotion decision processes. As always, it’s also extremely important to establish goals for gender diversity. A 2017 Women in the Workplace report conducted by Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg’s nonprofit organization LeanIn.org revealed that although 66% of organizations implement strategies for hiring underrepresented groups, only 25% set gender diversity targets. The report also found that although women comprise 47% of the U.S. workforce, they merely account for 20% of C-level positions. Evidently, there is ample room for progress when it comes to improving gender diversity in the workplace. However, striving to have open communication with all of your organization’s employees and enlisting assistance from an outside party can ultimately help you attain genuine gender diversity. Speak To The Gender Diversity Experts Reach out to the professionals at HR Search & Rescue to learn more about gender diversity in the workplace. We are an independent HR consulting firm dedicated to assisting both employers and employees with multiple types of workplace issues. We offer one on-one meetings and crowd consultations to discuss workplace challenges and provide guidance on how to effectively handle situations. We take pride in our ability to ensure a safe and healthy work environment for employees, managers, and HR executives. We are also highly knowledgeable about the Fair Labor Standards Act (FLSA) and are committed to helping ensure that companies treat all of their employees fairly, regardless of gender, race, or position. Regardless of your organization’s size and the industry it is in, we will work tirelessly to ensure your problems are resolved efficiently. Call HR Search & Rescue today at (703) 951-3105 or contact us online for more information about our services.
