Women at Work: 7 ways to go beyond Women’s Day 2023

Every year, this month is quite special for our team at Ungender. While our work with leaders like you continues through the entirety of the year, March allows us to take a stock of the journey of women at work.

Like every year, most organizations want to do some activities or run certain campaigns or host programs during March and especially on International Women’s Day to celebrate women at work. For the past few days, or weeks even, our team has spent some time talking to workplace leaders like you ideating what can be done and what cannot.

And, as much as we thoroughly enjoyed the deep dives in curating some meaningful interactions for their teams this month, we have put together some beautiful insights and action items for HR Leaders, People Success Teams, Founders, and anyone who intends to make a difference for the women at work in their teams.

Also read: Glass Ceilings: Career obstacles for women or lack of inclusive policies?

Here are a few things you can do to celebrate the women on your team:

1. Conduct a wage-gap analysis over shopping vouchers

Everyone loves shopping vouchers but they are not the best (or perhaps the only) way to celebrate the women on your team. Instead, identify if the wage gap is real in your company and introduce policies and procedures to address that. 

Revisit income structures and the bonus distribution method and work towards addressing and bridging the gender wage gap that exists in your company and leveling the playing field for women at work.

2. Appreciate their contribution to business growth

Acknowledging and appreciating the contribution of the women on your team is crucial. It boosts their morale and productivity and reassures them of the value and expertise that they bring to the team. 

Lack of appreciation can often make women at work feel unseen and unheard. This may lead to higher rates of attrition and a lack of trust in the business. While Women’s Day provides a great opportunity for businesses to highlight their contribution, women and their work in workplaces should be appreciated all year round.

Happy Women’s Day, Workplace Leaders! ✨#InternationalWomensDay#InternationalWomensDay2023 pic.twitter.com/Bkghif5fpw

— Ungender (@ungender_in) March 8, 2023

3. Support your women employees all year round

You don’t have to wait until March every year to hear, acknowledge, and act on what your women employees have to say. The demands of women are very clear and they tell you exactly what they want all year round.

As a workplace leader, you need to work every day on creating holistic strategies to build a safe, equitable, and inclusive workplace for women at work in your team. Implement and execute these strategies timely and hold the management and the leadership accountable for inaction.

Also read: Data Wrap: Women in the Boardroom

4. Offer them meaningful roles and growth opportunities 

Despite how genuine your intention to give the women on your team leaves and paid time off might be, it’s not what they are looking for. Like everyone else on your team, women also work towards business goals and objectives and contribute equally, if not more, to business growth. 

You have to identify whether you are assigning any office housework to your women employees. If you are, you need to take that away from their desks and offer them meaningful roles and open up opportunities for them in leadership positions.

5. Accommodate the additional household responsibilities on women

Often, companies order food for women employees in remote roles. Don’t you think that this gift makes more sense if it is extended by their family? As a workplace leader, there’s so much more you can do. 

You need to acknowledge the additional household responsibilities that women at work need to take care of. Remember, you will only have an equitable workplace when you have internal policies that not only acknowledge and accommodate this reality but also do not take away career and growth opportunities from them.

6. Plan and strategize for their long-term growth

The women on your team expect you to take initiative and responsibility for creating a safe and equitable workplace for them. As their leader in the workplace, you need to think, evaluate, and execute a plan of action that is more valuable and has a long-term impact. 

If you can build this mammoth business and operate it, you can also create a meaningful and sustainable experience of valuing your team.

Also read: 3 ways to respond to sexist jokes at work

7. Focus on their collective presence

Stereotypical praises for women usually look like comparisons with Goddesses, calling women multitaskers, caregivers, have-it-alls, and so much more. Society has done enough damage to women by giving them these titles and holding them up to associated expectations. 

As a workplace leader, you need to focus on their collective presence in your business and how it has improved your business growth. You need to support them with their professional development and growth and enable them to do better.

Conclusion

Having women in leadership positions and working in an equitable workplace is crucial. Women at work can bring more innovation and significant contributions to the business. Moreover, it inspires other women employees to do more and better.

It does not take a lot for workplace leaders to embrace equity other than true intent and a fearless mind.

How can Ungender help you?

At Ungender, our team of DEI experts supports you with implementing policies and procedures in place that make your organization equitable for the women on your team. Our experts assess the existing conditions in your organization through gender audits and bridge the gaps with relevant culture interventions.

Building an equitable workplace is a lot of work but with the help of the Ungender Team, your journey can be a lot easier. Leave us a message or write to us at contact@ungender.in to get in touch.