In today’s dynamic work environments, fostering workplace equality isn't just a moral imperative; it's the cornerstone of organisational growth and success. Women have the power to create and transform the world through their outlook on life, their inherent empathy, and their ability to think on their feet in times of crisis, bringing invaluable skills, perspectives, and leadership qualities to the fore. According to a report by UN Women, closing the gender gap could give the global economy a USD 7 trillion boost.

Despite strides toward inclusivity, gender disparities persist in the business ecosystem. It is baffling how, in this day and age, women's empowerment is still a question that needs to be addressed and an issue that requires discussion and deliberation. This raises a societal question as to why people need to recognise and debate something as natural as equality for all genders.

Addressing gender disparities in the workplace doesn't always require sweeping policy changes from the outset. Instead, organisations can initiate progress through small, incremental steps. Implementing gender-agnostic policies that offer equal opportunities to all employees can serve as a starting point.

Why gender equality is imperative?

 Organisations practising diversity and gender equality grow faster than those that don’t. Imagine if half the world’s talent were prevented from participating in sports, business, and other enterprise activities. The performance of these entities would drop compared to those that focused on hiring the best talent, irrespective of gender or background.

Once this is understood, even the sky isn’t the limit for such enterprises. For this, it may be necessary to challenge patriarchal and societal restrictions that prevent the girl-child from finding her place under the sun alongside her brother. The first step must begin with the thought, ‘Soch Badlo’ – change your thinking. If traditional mindsets are changed, the journey towards gender equality will be kick-started.

In the workplace, empirical evidence indicates that diverse teams always outperform homogenous ones. The dynamism of diversity drives better decision-making and improved financial outcomes. Additionally, inclusive workplaces are more likely to attract the best talent. The benefits of such diversity then create a virtuous cycle that propels further creativity, innovation, problem-solving, and adaptability. 

Policies to advance gender equity goals

One way to establish a diverse, gender-neutral workforce is through recruitment practices that facilitate the same. Organisations can also hold periodic diversity and inclusion training programmes for employees across all levels to address unconscious bias and stereotyping issues to enhance cultural sensitivity. Tackling unconscious bias is crucial as deeply embedded tendencies and stereotypes can foster discriminatory operational practices that hinder the rise of women and people from marginalised communities.

By highlighting biases, it’s easier to counter the menace and build an inclusive, equal-opportunity environment where people grow without being held back by their baggage. However, this must be backed by longstanding measures and steadfast commitment since some inherent biases can only be eradicated through sustained long-term programmes.

Another crucial step is monitoring and measuring the impact of gender equality programmes. By consistently tracking and evaluating several indicators, companies can garner important insights regarding the gender equality scenario within their workforce. This will show what strategies worked well and what didn’t. The data can then be used to advance targeted interventions for areas where women are underrepresented. Such improvement programmes can include focused recruitment, mentoring sessions, and career development training.

Required – long-term, institutional support

Moving forward, all companies can institutionalise priorities such as equality in salaries, recognition, and empowerment of staff – in a completely gender-agnostic manner.

Measures to promote workplace equality will then contribute to greater employee satisfaction, higher productivity, and increased retention of staff for longer tenures. In achieving these outcomes, both organisational efforts and proactive leadership are vital. Leaders across all departments must lead from the front in championing gender diversity and inclusion initiatives to ensure comprehensive empowerment.

Going forward, more organisations must come together to create a better tomorrow, where women lead from the front. One must remember that when creative forces lead, success is more consistent and stronger. Let us collectively strive to make our entire industry a more attractive workplace for future generations.