Workplace equality: Taking the conversation beyond gender

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Gender parity has been the focal point of India Inc’s diversity strategy for some time now. Today, there is, in fact, a growing need to take the conversation beyond gender, towards a holistic plan for inclusivity and equality for all.

Equality at workplace is not merely about equal pay. It is about creating an environment that embraces diversity amongst employees in every aspect—ethnicity, skills, gender, race, thought, sexual orientation, religion and so on. A work environment that is unable to provide voice, respect and equity to all employees alike, is bound to lose out on optimum productivity. Inclusion, therefore, is not merely a ‘feel good’ strategy—it is an imperative. Innovation, growth and success can only come from organisations that belong to ‘everyone’, with equal access to resources and opportunities.

Besides having a positive impact on the emotional well-being of employees, opportunity parity also has manifold benefits. To start with, it facilitates a fertile ground for two visible outcomes:

» Movement: Employees moving into different roles across the organisation, as internal lateral job moves

» Advancement: Employees moving into roles with increased scope and impact

Of course, these outcomes can only be achieved by a coalition of multiple factors, including employees’ access to learning and development, coaching and effective feedback; their own ambitions relative to movement and advancement; the organisation’s need and availability of these roles; and open and fair internal processes.