In a male-dominated workforce, women often feel left on the outskirts of conversation. In fact, just two years ago, a picture of a women’s bathroom at a tech conference went viral after it was shown to be completely empty. But times, they are a-changing: according to recent studies, college-educated women will officially overtake the number of college-educated men in the workforce this year.
According to Inc., 57% of undergraduate students are currently women. This is the first time in history that the number of college-educated women beats out the number of men in similar positions.
That means that countless businesses are looking to craft more women-friendly environments in order to make way for the tide of femininity coming their way. While many might say this should have been done a long time ago, it’s thanks to the current demographic shift that we might actually start to see a change in business.
After all, only 5% of Fortune 500 companies are led by women and this just happened in 2017. However, recent studies have shown that gender-diverse workplaces are typically 15% more profitable than similar companies that lack women in positions of leadership.
When you want to make a change in your company, read on to learn how to empower women.
Hire from a variety of backgrounds
Just like a gender-diverse company is more successful, businesses tend to thrive when they hire employees from a variety of backgrounds, ethnicities, and religions. This is because more voices are contributing to the conversations that occur every day. This opens the door for improved communication while ensuring that no one is left out of the bigger picture. For example, relying on the input from your employees can help you decide if investing in that business loan is worth it in the end.
It might seem tough to find a diverse pool of applicants depending on your industry, but this couldn’t be further from the truth. It’s estimated that immigrants make up about 13% of the total population in the United States. When you’re creating a more women-friendly workplace, hiring women from all backgrounds is essential in improving your workplace culture.
Develop one-on-one meetings for guidance and job development
One-on-one meetings are essential to helping the employee feel heard and represented in their place of work. However, women have shown that they thrive from this experience much more than men. Modern mentoring is vital when it comes to achieving salary improvements and promotions, two components that women in business are often denied or overlooked in lieu of their male counterparts. Through constructive feedback, networking, and negotiating, it’s thanks to one-on-one meetings that employees can lay out everything on the table in the hopes of improving
A recent study from the Wharton School of Business has shown that 25% of employees in a mentorship program were able to achieve a salary grade change. This is five times more than the employees who did not partake in a mentorship program where only 5% of employees achieved similar results.
When you’re trying to empower your women employees in the workplace, one-on-one meetings can be a great start.
Engage with local youth
Even though 75% of young girls are interested in STEM, only .04% actually major in technology industries like computer science. We can tell our youth time and time again to invest in the things that they like, but we’ll only see real change in this field if we invest in them. That includes offering after-school programs, mentorship programs, and simply showcasing women in positions of leadership. These efforts can go a long way in helping young girls achieve their dreams while proving that they can actually do it. Visit sites like https://www.calc.edu/ to know more about technology industries and programs.
Improve job flexibility
When women choose to start a family, it’s not uncommon for the brunt of child-rearing to fall on their shoulders. A recent study by Werk highlights that 51% of women want more flexibility in the workplace.
“While all employees are impacted in some way by lack of flexibility at work, it’s women who are often hit the hardest,” notes Werk co-founder and CEO Annie Dean. “Workplace flexibility is a top-three search criteria for millennial job seekers, and the number one criteria for women.”
When this workplace flexibility is achieved, it’s thought that entire families can benefit from choosing their own schedule. This means that the brunt of raising children isn’t placed solely on the woman in a heterosexual relationship. It also means that employees can take the time to pick up kids in the middle of the day and make those necessary dental appointments as long as the work gets done. Additionally, commercial security systems like a video surveillance system, and Factory Security Services can help ensure the safety and security of employees in manufacturing environments, further contributing to a well-balanced work-life dynamic.
Improve your HR department
Did you know that almost 30% of the cases presented before the EOC were sex discrimination cases back in 2016? This point might seem like a no-brainer, but improving your HR department and establishing an air-tight sexual harassment policy is essential in helping your women employees feel respected and safe in the workplace, particularly in preventing instances of sexual favours in exchange for employment benefits.
Keep in mind that these are just some of the ways you can craft a women-friendly workplace. Start with these tips and continue to listen to your employees to see what works for your company. As more women begin to take on jobs traditionally claimed by men, adapting to the changing times is vital to seeing your business — and its employees — thrive.
