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March is Women’s History Month (WHM), an opportunity to celebrate the contributions women have made to society in the United States and beyond.
International Women’s Day (IWD) is on March 8 every year and is celebrated globally to recognize the social, economic, cultural and political achievements of women.
Women are still suffering discrimination in the workplace.
Women face a number of gender equality battles in the workplace, including sexual harassment, pregnancy and maternity discrimination, pay disparities and being overlooked when it comes to promotions.
According to the McKinsey "Women in the Workplace" report, women – and especially women of color – are still dramatically underrepresented in corporate America leadership. Likewise, the gender pay gap continues to be a significant issue affecting women in the U.S. and around the world.
How to celebrate Women’s History Month at work:
Equal rights for women have come a long way over the years, thanks to those who fought to be afforded the same privileges as men. During WHM, we are encouraged to celebrate how far we’ve come as a society and recognize what more needs to be done.
Here are some suggestions of how to mark Women’s History Month at your company:
1. Bring fun to your WHM celebrations.
Explore fun ways to have your team engage in active learning regarding successes, contributions and challenges of women and brainstorm ways to drive more progress for women in the workplace.
2. Learn about women’s history.
Women’s History Month is a great time to learn about women throughout history who fought hard for the changes we enjoy in today’s society. There are so many ways to encourage learning, including:
- A book club. Here's a list of 31 books recommended by the New York Public Library for reading during WHM.
- A movie event. There are so many movies that feature strong female characters. Here's a list of 50 films curated by the Oscars.
- Bring live learning to your team. We know you’re busy. That’s why we created Electives. Our platform streamlines the planning, curation, logistics and measurement, so you can deliver better quality learning – on important topics like gender equality – with less effort.
3. Celebrate the women in your organization.
Show appreciation to the women in your organization, and publicly celebrate what they’ve achieved inside and outside of work. Collectively reflect on the journeys female employees have taken within your company and their valuable contributions.
4. Review your policies and procedures.
Don’t let WHM pass without taking action. Give yourself a deadline of March 31 to review and update your policies and procedures to ensure you’re fostering a culture of gender equality throughout your company.
5. Perform an audit of salaries.
There’s still a gender pay gap (GPG) across America. In fact, according to Harvard Business Review (HBR), “despite substantial progress toward pay equity, women in 2022 still earn 17% less than men on average.” And even with all the “explanations” for the gap removed, HBR estimates a GPG of 11% remains.
If you haven’t already, during March, conduct an audit of your company’s salaries and outline a plan to close your organization’s GPG and ensure equitable salaries for all employees.
6. Encourage ongoing gender equity conversations and action.
It’s important for employees to be able to speak up if they feel they’re being harassed or discriminated against. Creating a “safe space” where people feel comfortable will encourage them to report any experiences or observations of gender inequality.
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