Article Highlights
- Equity Goes Beyond Pay: True workplace equality isn't just about salary—it requires addressing systemic barriers, fostering inclusivity, and ensuring fair opportunities for all.
- Flexibility Fuels Productivity: Women-led companies embrace flexible work arrangements, helping employees balance career growth with personal responsibilities.
- Collaboration Builds Stronger Teams: Inclusive workplaces prioritize teamwork over competition, creating a culture where employees feel valued and empowered.
- Empathy Enhances Leadership: Purpose-driven leadership fosters trust, engagement, and a shared sense of belonging, benefiting the entire organization.
We hear a lot about the gender gap, pay equity, and how to improve conditions for women in the workplace so they can thrive. While progress is being made across all industries, women-led organizations stand out for their commitment to support, empathy, and inclusivity – particularly for female employees. These organizations, helmed by women in leadership roles, often prioritize creating environments where women can thrive professionally and personally. And when women in the workplace thrive, the whole organization thrives as well.
What does it mean though to really and truly thrive? The discussion around equity for women in the workplace often centres around money, and while that is certainly an important element of women’s equality in the workplace, Best Workplaces™ Led by Women, and For Women recognize that real equity goes much deeper than money alone. These organizations are redefining what a great workplace looks like as they address systemic barriers, promote flexibility, encourage collaboration and lead with empathy. Their goal is for every person to feel included and to be encouraged to achieve their full potential no matter their gender.
At the Best Workplaces™ Led by, and For, Women, this is the expectation, not the exception. And the results speak for themselves, with very consistent employee experiences across our survey questions. Whether the organization is led by women or great for women, the workplaces on these Best™ lists are creating great conditions for all, with 90% of employees on both lists saying that taking everything into account, their organization is a great place to work. Here’s some of what they are doing particularly well to create great workplaces for women specifically, and for everyone as a result.
1. Addressing Systemic Barriers Head-On
Challenges exist for women in the workplace. Whether it’s workplace discrimination, unequal pay for women in the workplace, or even violence against women in the workplace, these issues can’t be ignored, and because women leaders often have firsthand experience with pay inequity, harassment, or lack of representation, their organizations are more likely to tackle these issues directly by implementing policies that level the playing field. Not surprising, this is the one area where women-led organizations performed a bit better at creating great workplaces for women.
When asked whether managers avoid playing favourites or whether people are paid fairly for the work they do, the Best Workplaces™ Led by Women had 2% more agreement than those organizations on the Best Workplaces™ for Women list.
| Criteria | Best Workplaces Led by Women | Best Workplaces For Women |
|---|---|---|
| Managers avoid playing favorites. | 80% | 78% |
| People here are paid fairly for the work they do. | 73% | 71% |
Personal experience with things like unequal pay for women in the workplace or unfair promotional systems encourage female leaders to adopt practices that create a fair, safe and empowering environment where women feel valued and heard.
- Perform a comprehensive, annual pay equity audit: Identify and eliminate gender-based wage gaps. Publish the methodology and results and immediately adjust salaries where disparities are found. Transparency ensures fairness, builds trust, and signals a commitment to equity.
- Establish a robust anti-harassment policy: Provide confidential reporting options like anonymous hotlines, and ensure swift, impartial investigations with consequences for offenders—regardless of their position. A clear, enforceable policy empowers women to speak up without fear of retaliation.
- Commit to specific, time-bound targets for women in leadership: Pair this with a succession planning program that identifies and prepares high-potential female employees for advancement.
2. Prioritizing Flexibility and Work-Life Balance
Women leaders are often acutely aware of the societal expectations placed on women to juggle career and family responsibilities and thus tend to embed flexibility into their organizational DNA. 90% of employees on our Best Workplaces™ Led by Women agree they can take time off when necessary. This approach not only benefits women in the workplace, but also sets a new standard for workplace culture for all employees. By addressing women’s equality in the workplace these organizations create a culture where employees don’t have to choose between ambition and personal life.
- Create a workplace that values output over rigid schedules: Use ‘core hours’ for meetings and collaboration and combine with a generous (or unlimited) time-off policy that allows employees to take time off guilt-free to relax, recharge, and prioritize their well-being.
- Implement a flexible work policy: Allow employees to choose fully remote, hybrid, or in-office work arrangements with no penalty for career advancement. Women often juggle caregiving or household responsibilities alongside work, and flexible time off enables them to tailor schedules to their individual needs.
- Support women returning to the workforce: Create programs that help women re-enter the workforce after a career break, including mentoring, flexible hours, and skill development. These initiatives build confidence and re-establish professional networks for those who have paused their careers for family or caregiving responsibilities.
3. Building Collaborative Cultures
Collaboration over competition is a hallmark of many women-led organizations. These workplaces often reject hierarchical, cutthroat dynamics in favor of cultures that encourage teamwork and mutual support – attributes that resonate strongly with female employees and that redefine what success looks like and how it can be achieved. At the Best Workplaces™ Led by, and For, Women 88% of employees believe they can count on people to cooperate. This is a cornerstone for feeling supported and appreciated and this collaborative spirit builds belonging, improves trust and encourages people to take responsibility and try new things.
- Create cross-department task forces: Form committees that include women from different departments to tackle company-wide projects, such as improving workplace policies or launching new initiatives. These collaborations provide a platform for sharing ideas, building networks, and gaining visibility.
- Enhance career development initiatives: Leverage traditional mentorship programs by pairing new female employees with experienced "buddies" from different teams for their first six months. Organize regular, non-hierarchical brainstorming sessions with facilitators to ensure every voice is heard.
- Implement peer-to-peer recognition: Launch a system where employees nominate colleagues for collaborative efforts. This approach values group success over self-promotion and reinforces the supportive behaviors that often go unnoticed.
4. Leading with Empathy and Purpose
Women leaders often bring a high degree of emotional intelligence to their roles, emphasizing empathy and purpose-driven work. This resonates with employees, especially women, who seek meaningful careers beyond just a paycheck. 92% of employees at the Best Workplaces™ Led by, and For, Women are proud to tell others where they work, and 90% agree that people care about one another at work. This level of mindfulness is part of a ‘human first’ approach that the Best™ organizations are adopting—knowing that their people really are their most important asset.
- Encourage leaders to share personal stories: Leaders can build stronger connections by openly discussing their challenges, such as overcoming failure or supporting a team member in crisis. Authentic leadership fosters a culture of trust and inspires managers to be more empathetic toward employees’ life challenges.
- Amplify employee voices: Create platforms such as internal newsletters or podcasts where employees can share personal stories tied to the company’s mission and values. This helps humanize the workplace, ensuring employees feel valued beyond their roles.
- Set measurable purpose-driven goals: Align company objectives with societal impact by setting clear targets. Engage employees in initiatives like volunteer days or project teams, fostering a stronger connection between their work and a greater mission.
The impact of women-led organizations extends beyond their walls. By creating conditions that are great for women in the workplace, they make their own workplace better as a result – all while challenging traditional corporate norms and setting benchmarks for others to follow. As we continue to make strides toward full women’s equality in the workplace it’s clear that what women in the workplace need, is really what everyone in the workplace needs! And that when women lead, they don’t just succeed; they elevate everyone around them.
FAQs
- Why are women-led organizations important for workplace culture?
Women-led organizations prioritize inclusivity, flexibility, and collaboration, fostering a workplace culture where employees feel valued, supported, and empowered to reach their full potential. - How do women-led workplaces promote equity beyond pay?
While pay equity is crucial, these organizations also address systemic barriers by implementing policies that ensure fair promotions, transparent decision-making, and a safe work environment for all employees. - What role does flexibility play in creating a great workplace for women?
Flexibility in work arrangements allows employees, particularly women managing caregiving responsibilities, to maintain a healthy work-life balance without compromising career growth. - How does empathy in leadership impact workplace success?
Leaders who prioritize empathy foster trust, engagement, and collaboration. Employees are more likely to feel heard, supported, and motivated in workplaces where emotional intelligence is a core leadership trait. - What are some actionable steps organizations can take to support women in the workplace?
Organizations can conduct regular pay audits, establish mentorship programs, implement anti-harassment policies, and create leadership development initiatives to ensure equal opportunities for all employees.
Tools & Resources
- Leadership and Development: Strong leadership is key to fostering an inclusive and supportive workplace. Discover programs that help build empathetic and effective leaders.
- Employee Engagement: Engaged employees contribute to a thriving workplace. Learn how to create an environment where women—and all employees—feel empowered and valued.
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