Lean IN: Women in the Workplace
Written in close collaboration with McKinsey & Company
Despite progress, it will take almost 50 years to reach parity for all women in corporate America (Lean In).
Despite significant strides in implementing policies like gender quotas and diversity training, many workplaces still struggle to achieve true gender equity. This article explores the gap between policy and practice, examining why employee attitudes and behaviours haven't kept pace with these progressive initiatives.
Bridging the Gap: Progress in Workplace Equity vs. Cultural Change
Companies have undoubtedly made strides towards gender equity in recent years. Initiatives like de-biasing hiring processes, investing in diversity training, and expanding parental leave policies are commendable steps. However, a significant gap persists between these well-intentioned efforts and a truly equitable workplace culture.
While companies have focused on implementing policies and training programs, employee behaviour and attitudes haven't consistently reflected these changes. Studies suggest that employees are not significantly more likely to identify and challenge gender bias in the workplace, nor are they actively seeking to be allies for women, particularly women of colour.
Furthermore, this lack of meaningful cultural shift coincides with a concerning trend: a decline in company commitment to gender and racial diversity initiatives. This disconnect between policy and practice hinders progress towards a truly inclusive and equitable workplace.
See the 2015 - 2024 pipeline below:
By the numbers
Companies are nearly 2x as likely to send bias reminders before reviews as they were six years ago.
Half of companies now offer support for caregivers of sick and elderly adults—and 1 in 3 offer compassionate leave.4
Men are 2x as likely to say their gender will hurt their chances to advance as they were in 2016.
Women experience competence-based microaggressions
Women are far more likely than men to deal with comments and actions that call their credibility or leadership potential into question.
Key Takeaways:
Companies have made progress in implementing policies for gender equity.
However, employee behaviour and attitudes haven't consistently reflected these changes.
There's a concerning decline in company commitment to diversity initiatives.
Bridging the gap between policy and practice is crucial for achieving a truly equitable workplace culture.