How to reduce gender gap in the workplace?

The gender gap refers to the differences in economic, social, and political opportunities between men and women. Despite the progress that has been made in recent years, there are still significant disparities between the two genders. Addressing the gender gap is important not just for promoting equality but also for promoting economic growth and social progress.

There is a need to reduce the gender gap across various spheres. However, it is critical to focus on reducing the gender gap in the workplace. The World Economic Forum's 2021 Global Gender Gap Report found that the global gender gap in labor force participation, economic opportunity, and political empowerment widened in 2020 due to the pandemic. The report estimates that it will take another 135.6 years to bridge the overall global gender gap at the current rate of progress.

There is still much work to be done to promote gender equality in the workforce and ensure that women have equal opportunities and access to decent opportunities. Organizations can take the lead and work towards improving the representation of women in the global workforce.

What Businesses can do to Reduce the Gender Gap?

Businesses can undertake a variety of actions to reduce the gender gap. Here are some of the key actions that will help to reduce the gender gap:

1. Promote Gender Diversity and Inclusivity

One of the most important steps in reducing the gender gap in the workplace is to promote gender diversity and inclusivity. This can be achieved by establishing diverse hiring practices, promoting mentorship and sponsorship programs, and encouraging open communication among employees. The action of promoting gender diversity and inclusivity plays a critical role in setting the right ecosystem for reducing the gender gap in the workplace. Companies should focus on setting the right context and taking the right actions that help to reduce the gender gap.

Diverse Hiring Practices

Organizations should aim to diversify their hiring practices by actively recruiting and considering candidates from diverse backgrounds, including women. This can be achieved by implementing policies that require job postings to be gender-neutral and avoiding language that may discourage women from applying for certain roles. Additionally, it is important to ensure that recruitment teams themselves are diverse and inclusive, with representation from a variety of backgrounds.

Some studies confirm that people from historically disadvantaged groups are less likely to be called for interviews. It is similar when managers compare the two genders for the same role. For instance, when hiring is taking place for the position of Police Chief, a post usually dominated by men, the candidates from the two genders are usually assessed on different parameters and male candidates are given preference.

Mentorship and Sponsorship Programs

Companies can also help promote gender diversity and inclusivity by offering mentorship and sponsorship programs. These programs can provide women with access to roles and opportunities for career development. It can be achieved by establishing formal mentorship programs or encouraging women employees to seek out informal mentorship relationships. These mentorship opportunities can play an integral role in providing the right support system during the journey of the women employees and create an inclusive ecosystem in the organization.

Open Communication

Encouraging open communication among employees can also help promote gender diversity and inclusivity in the workplace. This can be achieved by establishing an open-door policy, creating a safe and supportive environment for employees to share their experiences and concerns, and actively seeking employee feedback.

2. Provide Equal Opportunities

In addition to promoting gender diversity and inclusivity, it is essential to provide women with equal opportunities in the workplace. This can be achieved by ensuring fair hiring practices, offering equal pay for equal work, and implementing policies that promote work-life balance.

Fair Hiring Practices

An organization should ensure that its hiring practices are fair and free from gender bias. There have been cases where the usage of masculine words in the job description has discouraged women to apply for the job. Therefore, we should try and create a balanced job description that helps to attract more applications from both genders.

Research confirms that managers usually judge women on higher standards as compared to men. For instance, it has been noticed that women economists receive less credit for co-authored papers as compared to their male peers. Organizations must acknowledge these patterns and ensure that they follow diverse hiring practices that help assess candidates without any bias.

Equal Pay for Equal Work

Organizations must offer equal pay for equal work. This means ensuring that women are paid the same as their male counterparts for performing the same job duties. Businesses can achieve this by conducting regular pay equity audits, ensuring that pay raises and promotions are based on objective criteria, and establishing transparent pay policies.

Work-life Balance

Businesses can also help promote positive work-life balance by implementing favorable policies. These policies can help women balance work and family responsibilities, which can improve retention and increase employee satisfaction.

3. Address Unconscious Bias

Unconscious bias refers to the attitudes or stereotypes that people hold unconsciously towards certain individuals or groups. For instance, Latino women are usually considered good for working in low-paying jobs or at max at entry-level jobs. These biases can impact decision-making, leading to unfair treatment of certain individuals or groups. To reduce the gender gap in the workplace, it is important to address unconscious bias. Organizations can do this by providing training programs to recognize and address unconscious biases. These programs can help employees become aware of their biases and learn strategies to mitigate them.

Training Programs

Training programs can help raise awareness about unconscious bias and provide employees with tools and strategies to recognize and address it. These programs can be delivered through workshops, webinars, or online courses and can be tailored to the needs of specific departments or teams.

Inclusive Work Environment

It is equally important to create an inclusive work environment where women employees find it worthwhile to build their careers. An inclusive environment is one where female employees can freely express their personalities and opinion without the fear of being judged or reprimanded. With a sensitive environment where both genders are equally respected, it will be easier to work towards reducing the gender gap.

4. Implement Flexible Work Arrangements

One of the ways organizations can reduce the gender gap in the workplace is by implementing flexible work arrangements. These arrangements can help women employees balance work and personal responsibilities, making it easier for women to participate in the workforce. Businesses can implement several flexible work arrangements, including telecommuting options, flexible schedules, and job sharing.

Offering Telecommuting Options

Telecommuting, also known as remote work, allows women employees to work from a location outside the office. This can be especially beneficial for employees who have caregiving responsibilities or live in areas with limited transportation options. By offering telecommuting options, businesses can attract and retain more women in the workforce. In addition, telecommuting can also increase productivity and reduce costs associated with office space and transportation.

Providing Flexible Schedules

Flexible schedules allow employees to adjust their work hours to accommodate personal responsibilities. This can include allowing employees to work part-time or adjusting their start and end times to fit their schedules. Flexible schedules can be especially beneficial for women who have caregiving responsibilities or who need to accommodate school schedules. Organizations can also offer flexible schedules temporarily, such as during times of increased workload or a family emergency.

Job Sharing

Job sharing allows two employees to split the responsibilities of one full-time position. This can be a useful option for female employees who need to reduce their work hours to accommodate caregiving responsibilities. Job sharing can also be beneficial by providing additional flexibility in staffing and reducing the need for overtime. Organizations can implement job-sharing by allowing employees to apply for job-sharing arrangements or by creating job-sharing positions.

5. Increase Transparency

Transparency is a critical element in reducing the gender gap in the workplace. It is important that promotions, pay raises, and performance evaluations are transparent and equitable, free from any biases or discrimination. Here are some ways to increase transparency in the workplace:

Ensuring Transparent and Equitable Criteria for Promotions and Pay Raises

Businesses should establish clear and objective criteria for promotions and pay raises that are based on merit and performance, rather than subjective factors such as gender or ethnicity. These criteria should be communicated to all employees, so they are aware of what is required to advance in their careers. Companies should also regularly review their promotion and pay raise policies to ensure they are fair and unbiased.

Objective and Unbiased Performance Evaluations

Performance evaluations must be objective and unbiased, free from any discrimination. Organizations should use standard evaluation metrics that are based on measurable, job-related criteria. Additionally, it should be ensured that evaluators are trained to recognize and eliminate any biases that may affect their evaluations. Performance evaluations should be conducted regularly and provide clear feedback to employees on their strengths, areas for improvement, and opportunities for career growth.

6. Foster a Supportive Culture

To reduce the gender gap in the workplace, it is essential to foster a supportive culture that encourages diversity and inclusivity. A supportive workplace culture can help attract and retain a diverse workforce, leading to greater innovation, productivity, and profitability. Here are some ways to foster a supportive workplace culture:

Encouraging Diversity and Inclusivity

Businesses must create a workplace culture that values diversity and inclusivity. This includes developing policies and practices that support and accommodate a diverse range of employees. It is also important to encourage employees to share their experiences and perspectives to create an environment of mutual understanding and respect. Management can also provide diversity and inclusivity training for all employees to raise awareness and promote a culture of inclusivity.

Encouraging Employee Feedback and Participation

Organizations should create opportunities for female employees to provide feedback and participate in decision-making processes. This can include regular employee surveys, suggestion boxes, or town hall meetings. By involving employees in decision-making processes, a business can gain valuable insights and ideas from a diverse range of perspectives. Additionally, by providing employees with opportunities to participate, it can create a sense of ownership and investment in the workplace culture.

Providing Opportunities for Professional Development

Organizations should provide opportunities for employees to develop their skills and advance their careers. This can include training programs, mentorship and sponsorship programs, and opportunities for job rotations or cross-functional projects. By investing in employee development, companies can create a more engaged and motivated workforce.

7. Establish Gender-Neutral Parental Leave Policies

One of the critical factors in reducing the gender gap in the workplace is establishing gender-neutral parental leave policies. Traditional gender roles often place a disproportionate burden on women when it comes to child-rearing and family responsibilities, which can lead to women being overlooked for promotions or opportunities for career advancement. Gender-neutral parental leave policies can help to level the playing field and ensure that both men and women have equal opportunities to take care of their families while continuing to pursue their careers. Here are some ways to establish gender-neutral parental leave policies:

Providing Equal Parental Leave Benefits to Both Men and Women

The organization should provide equal parental leave benefits to both men and women, regardless of their gender or sexual orientation. This means that both parents should have access to the same amount of leave time and the same benefits, including paid leave, job protection, and continuation of health insurance coverage. This can help to reduce the stigma surrounding men taking time off work for family responsibilities, which can encourage a more equal distribution of caregiving responsibilities between men and women.

Encouraging Men to Take an Active Role in Child-Rearing

Companies can help to reduce the gender gap in the workplace by encouraging men to take an active role in child-rearing. This can be done by providing resources and support for fathers, such as parenting classes, workshops, or mentorship programs. A business can also create a culture that values work-life balance and supports employees' efforts to balance work and family responsibilities. 

Summing up

Reducing the gender gap in the workplace is an important goal that requires sustained effort and commitment. By implementing these strategies, businesses can create a more equitable and inclusive work environment, where all employees can thrive and achieve their full potential.

Cogent Infotech help businesses hire the top tech talent. With the right balance of recruiting team and AI-powered technology, we recruit diverse teams for organizations. Click here to read more about how we provide our services and trainings to sensitize professionals to racial inequities and enable a commitment to DEI initiatives.