BASIC COMPETENCIES

UC#9
UC 9- WORK IN A DIVERSE ENVIRONMENT

INFORMATION SHEET: 9.1-2

Additional Topic:
Gender Equality in the Workplace

Gender inequality in the workplace is an important issue for any business.

Enhancing workplace diversity and alleviating gender discrimination may increase
productivity, reduce conflict and prevent legal issues. Gender equality can help
capture the skills, ideas and perspectives that each employee offers. Not only that,
but people want to work at companies that prioritize equality. According to an
Indeed survey, 55% of job seekers said it’s “very” or “extremely” important to
work at a company that prioritizes diversity and inclusion. * For these reasons,
it’s important to be intentional about taking steps to promote gender equality in
your workplace. *Indeed survey, n=750

What is gender equality in the workplace?

Gender equality in the workplace means employees of all genders have access to
the same rewards, opportunities and resources at a company, including:

 Equal pay and benefits for comparable roles with similar responsibilities
 Equal opportunities for promotions and career progression
 Equal consideration of needs

Benefits of gender equality in the workplace

There are numerous benefits of maintaining gender equality in the workplace,
including:

 Positive company culture: A gender-equal environment where all

employees feel respected and valued creates an overall positive workplace.
This gender-diverse culture may help your employees notice that their
coworkers have talents and strengths they don’t possess. Appreciation for
these differences can help promote respect.
  More innovation and creativity: People of different genders bring unique
talents, strengths and skills to the workplace, which can improve
collaboration and creativity. Companies often find that gender diversity
increases innovation.

 Enhanced reputation: By intentionally promoting gender equality in the

workplace, you’ll foster an excellent company reputation. People who have
similar values will want to work for you. Happy employees help create a
positive, productive workforce.

 Improved conflict resolution: Strong communication skills among

employees are essential for success. People of different genders naturally
communicate differently, with some preferring to communicate problems
directly and others working as peacemakers. When you combine all these
communication styles in one work environment, you can more easily
achieve conflict resolution.

Components of gender inequality in the workplace

Both men and women may face issues regarding gender inequality in the
workplace, although women typically deal with it more often than men. These
components can identify gender inequality in the workplace:

Pay
A pay gap continues to be a large part of gender inequality in the workplace. The
gap is characterized by one gender being paid less to do the same job as the other
gender. Usually, women are paid less than men, even if they hold the same
positions and have similar work experience and educational backgrounds. For
each dollar a man earns, a woman earns roughly 82 cents, creating an 18-cent pay
difference between the genders. That gap is often larger for certain groups of
women. For instance, in managerial roles, the pay gap increases to 23 cents, with
female managers typically earning only 77 cents for each dollar earned by a male
counterpart.
Leadership
There’s also a gender leadership gap. Many women are often passed up for
promotion opportunities due to gender discrimination. Data shows there are
enough qualified women to fill existing leadership roles, but gender bias may be
keeping women from progressing to these positions. Supporting internal growth
opportunities for all employees, widening your recruitment networks and
examining your biases can help you address this at your company.

Hiring
Male employers often prefer hiring male employees and hiring managers are
more likely to click on a male’s application profile instead of a woman. In one
gender experiment, when a male employer was making a hiring decision, women
had only a 40% chance of getting the job. This indicates that women are often at a
disadvantage from the start of the hiring process—even if they have the same
skills, experience and qualifications.

Inclusion
Gender inclusion in the workplace can vary depending on the business. However,
excluding an individual from team projects, company outings, meetings and
necessary decision-making because of gender falls within the realm of gender
inequality. When an individual isn’t included in tasks or events, it can prevent them
from becoming successful, productive worker.

How to promote gender equality in the workplace

Here are some steps you can take to promote gender equality in the workplace:

1. Increase hiring diversity

Review your job descriptions and assess whether your job requirements could
be altered to broaden the pool of applicants. For example, if a position currently
requires 15 years of experience, consider if 10 years of experience would be
sufficient. You can also evaluate whether other types of experiences or
education could qualify applicants for senior-level positions. It’s also a good idea
to think carefully about the language you use in your job postings. For example,
certain words like “assertive” and “dominant” may attract more men than
women. If you have a hiring panel, make sure that it’s gender diverse. You can
also ensure that you have fair compensation practices and use employee exit
interviews to get honest feedback from employees about their perception of
gender equality in the workplace.
2. Review equal pay laws
Review the government equal pay law, and then review state laws. Many laws
state that employers are required to provide equal pay for equal work, which
includes the same skills, responsibilities, working conditions and effort. You can
note any areas of improvement needed in your business regarding equal pay
for equal work, and develop a policy relating to equal pay in your code of
conduct.

3. Begin a pay audit

Consider conducting a pay audit to see if your male and female employees are
paid comparably. This may help you identify if you offer equal employment
opportunities. You can seek help from an HR professional or outside source, or
you can do it yourself using a spreadsheet. The spreadsheet you use to conduct
the audit should have sections for employment positions, education,
performance and experience to help you spot gender pay gaps.

4. Consider updating your training

Review your training on gender discrimination and inequality. Check your
current training programs to see if they’re informative and detailed enough to
make an impact. Another option is to make gender inequality training
mandatory once a year. This way, the information is at the forefront of your
employees’ minds and can be more easily reflected in their actions.

5. Revise pay secrecy policies

Pay secrecy policies may lead to discrepancies with the gender pay gap and may
be illegal. The more employees discuss salary information, the more aware they
can become of gender inequalities in the workplace. Consider publishing salary
data. Recording and sharing salary information with employees can help assure
your workforce that everyone is being paid fairly and ensuring gender pay
equality is a priority. Some companies publish pay brackets outlining the salary
and general requirements for each position.

6. Promote work-life balance

Parents might struggle to reach career goals because of the challenges of
working while raising a family. To relieve stress for working parents, some
companies offer parental leave for mothers and fathers. Workplace flexibility is
also something many people look for when evaluating whether they want to
 work for a company. This option is especially appealing for parents who need
flexibility to balance a career and raising children.

7. Create an open-minded atmosphere

Promote a culture where employees know they’re appreciated based on their
talent and performance. Get to know team members on a personal level,
regardless of their gender or background. This can deepen your appreciation
for differences and promote a welcoming, inclusive work environment.

8. Provide mentorship for everyone

An experienced mentor can be invaluable for helping employees navigate their
careers. Consider implementing a mentorship program. While pairing employees
of the same gender can be useful, companies should also consider pairing
employees with a senior manager of the opposite gender.

9. Keep accurate documentation

Document each employee’s qualifications, pay, position, education and work
experience. There are many times when an employee may deserve to be paid
more, however, employers are responsible for making these distinctions based on
concrete evidence.

What should gender equality look like in the workplace?

Gender equality should be characterized by these important components:

 Each gender can fully participate in the workplace

 Equal opportunities for each gender to achieve leadership positions
 Acceptance for those who have caregiving and family responsibilities
 Equal pay for equal work

What are the effects of gender inequality in the workplace?

Gender inequality can have many adverse effects such as:

 Workplace conflict
 Poor employee morale
 Reduced productivity
 Possible legal issues
Why does gender inequality occur in the workplace?
Gender inequality can occur in the workplace due to traditional gender roles and
persistent gender bias. There are gender biases that may inadvertently give an
advantage to one gender over the other, such as the idea that men have more
physical capability or that women are better in nurturing roles.

Can gender inequality in the workplace result in legal action?

If you discriminate against female employees based on their gender, your
company could face legal action. Employers aren’t allowed to discriminate or treat
employees differently based on factors like gender, sexual orientation or gender
identity. Reviewing labor laws and evaluating your practices may help you avoid
being sued.*****
 SELF-CHECK 9.1-1

Working in a Diverse Environment

INFORMATION SHEET: 9.1-1
Additional Topic:
Gender Equality in the Workplace

I. IDENTIFICATION. Fill the blanks with correct answer.

1-2. Enhancing __________________________ and __________________________ may

increase productivity, reduce conflict and prevent legal issues.

3. A ________________________________ takes place when all employees feel respected

and valued creates an overall positive workplace.

4. Collaboration and creativity is improved when people of different genders bring

unique talents, strengths and skills to the workplace.

5. It is called _______________________ when an individual isn’t included in tasks or

events, which can prevent them from becoming successful, productive worker.

6. Gender inequality can occur in the workplace due to _____________________________

and _______________________________.

7-10. Gender inequality can have many adverse effects such as:
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
II. ENUMERATION
1. Give the four (4) benefits of gender equality in the workplace. Explain briefly based
on your understanding of the material given.
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________

2. Give the four (4) Components can identify gender inequality in the workplace
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________

3. What are the effects of gender inequality in the workplace? 4 points

______________________________
______________________________
______________________________
______________________________

4. What are the steps that can be taken to promote gender equality in the
workplace? Expound each step briefly. (2 points each number)

____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________
 ANSWERS TO SELF-CHECKS

UC 9-Working in a Diverse Environment

ANSWER KEY No.9.1-2
Additional Topic:
Gender Equality in the Workplace

I. IDENTIFICATION. Fill the blanks with correct answer.

1-2. workplace diversity and alleviating gender discrimination

3. gender-equal environment

4. collaboration and creativity

5. gender exclusion

6. traditional gender roles and persistent gender bias

7-10. Workplace conflict, Poor employee morale, Reduced productivity, Possible

legal issues

II. ENUMERATION (Check your answers from the materials given)