Company culture key to workplace equality

CEBU, Philippines — The culture in the work environment has a vital role in unlocking workforce gender equality and narrowing the pay gap, a new research of Accenture said.

The research has identified 40 workplace factors that create a culture of equality.

"Our research shows that in companies with cultures that include the workplace factors that help women advance, men thrive too, and we all rise together," said Ambe Tierro, senior managing director at Accenture Philippines, in a teleconference yesterday.

The company's latest "Getting to Equal 2018" report details the most effective actions that business leaders can take to accelerate advancement and help close gender pay gap.

Tierro noted the study suggests that a culture of equality is key to achieving gender equality in the workplace because people, not programs, are what make a company "inclusive and diverse."

The research surveyed more than 22,000 working men and women in 34 countries, including more than 700 in the Philippines.

The study showed that bold leadership, comprehensive action and an empowering environment are vital aspects to close the gender gap in the workplace.

In the Philippines, 71 percent of employees at organizations where leadership is accountable for improving gender diversity say the proportion of women in senior leadership has increased over the past five years.

While 87 percent of employees work in organizations with a clear maternity policy in place and where women are encouraged to take place.

Tierro said it is also important that companies have an empowering environment where their people are given trust and responsibility, training opportunities and freedom to be oneself at work.

She said bold leadership entails that gender equality must be a strategic priority for CEO and leadership team.

In terms of comprehensive action, workplace policies, practices and programs must be created and supported to drive toward gender equality.

Accenture recently announced women now account for 41 percent or 170,000 of its global workforce up from just 40 percent in June 2017.