Respecting Women in the Workplace

In the 21st century, we as a society and culture are taking great strides to be inclusive of diverse groups of people. It’s vital to make people from these minority groups feel welcome and comfortable in any environment, especially a professional one. Not doing so can result in the suppression of ideas that could greatly contribute to your goals. While society as a whole has gotten significantly better at this over the past few decades there is always room for improvement. In certain arenas “boys clubs” still exist. The corporate world is definitely one of these places. However, respecting women at work is easy if you know what to do and what not to do.

Respecting Women at Work is Essential to a Thriving Workplace

In today’s offices, you are all but guaranteed to encounter members of the opposite sex. Men who are not used to these experiences can occasionally have trouble adjusting to such an environment. Marginalizing or dismissing women in the workplace can cause alienation. This can lead to lack of productivity and missed opportunities. You want every member of your team operating at peak efficiency. This means feeling good about themselves and their coworkers. An inclusive and nurturing environment is key.

How to Make Sure Female Employees are Respected

Often, women experience an unconscious bias in the workplace. Rarely are they blatantly and outright discriminated against simply for being a woman. This type of bias can permeate all levels of society, not just the workplace. However, it is especially important to combat this in the workplace. Treating women and men equally in the workplace involves more than just paying them the same amount. For example, men are often more likely to get eye contact in meetings than women, even if they are the subordinate.

Some small things you can do in your workplace to ensure men and women are equal include:

• Introducing people based off accomplishments and qualifications

• Ensure women feel comfortable in their business environment

• Pay attention to word choices in conversations

Often, women get introduced in business settings based off their personality or their relationships to others. An introduction based off of merit and qualifications keeps the focus on what they can offer in a workplace. Business deals commonly take place outside of the traditional office setting. Golf courses and bars are typical places for less formal business dealings. However, not every woman will feel comfortable in such settings. Ensure that all coworkers are okay with your selected meeting place. Word choice is also a way we unconsciously mistreat women in the workplace. Be sure to speak about all employees in a similarly respectful manner.

Ensuring Your Workplace is Female Friendly

If you are looking to ensure that women feel comfortable working in your office then the best thing to do is set clear standards and policies for your employees to follow. Clearly defined boundaries on these issues will help both men and women feel more comfortable.

On top of this, employees take their cues from their managers and executives. If you ensure that your upper level employees are treating women with respect then this should also trickle down to your employees. When it comes to respecting women in the workplace, leading by example goes a long way.