‘Workplace gender balance leads to economic gains’ | Sunday Observer

‘Workplace gender balance leads to economic gains’

18 August, 2019

The importance of having gender balance at the workplace and the economic gains that it would entail, was highlighted at a forum in Colombo last week.

There is a drive to encourage relevant parties to help reduce unemployment among women. Unilever has core beliefs to navigate volatility, uncertainty, complexity and ambiguity (VUCA), the characteristics of the external environment, Chairman, Unilever Sri Lanka (USL), Carl Cruz told guests at the first ever Women Directors Forum organised by the Sri Lanka Institute of Directors.

“Sustainable business is the key. Business grows from sustainable positive social impact and the focus should not be on short term financial gain. The only way to navigate the VUCA world is to ensure the next generation has a planet called home and a financially robust operating strategy to help tackle climate change will support business growth,” he said.

“Our vision is a new way of doing business, one that delivers growth by serving society and the planet. We have 80 years of value-driven growth in Sri Lanka. Unilever has living brands, 69 percent are fast growing while 75 percent are delivering more than company goals. The growth perspective is satisfactory, but we cannot be complacent. It is not about diversity and delivery, but the three pillars of diversity, inclusion and belonging. This needs full talent and the ability to do the job,” he said.

“Our global strategy is to increase women’s representation at management level. It also focuses on increasing inclusion of differently-abled and challenge harmful social models. Thirty five percent of our workforce comprises women, while 45 percent of management positions are held by women to ensure balance and a level playing field,” he said.

“It is necessary to unstereotype job roles and we are making a conscious effort to ensure marketing and advertising will not affect any person. We provide agile working and flexi working opportunities with career breaks. The company has also provided six months maternity leave for women and three weeks paternity leave for men and is proud of a 100 percent maternity return rate. It also has childcare facilities. Workforce well-being is a company priority.

“USL has a diversity board tapping differently-abled talent for the company. We believe quality of opportunity and talent in job. We reach out to provide more opportunities to this talent pool. We are highly successful in Sri Lanka. We believe that happy employees bring the very best to the work place and there is never been a better time to create a bright future,” he said.

Former Chairman, Commercial Bank, Mahendra Amarasuriya said, a female was appointed to the Commercial Bank board for the first time in its history and it is not the gender that matters when it comes to the career ladder. It is necessary is to have the correct attitude.

Gender balanced boards have a better idea of the world at large. Women’s ideas are different to that of men and with various kinds of experience, the work place can have a balanced view.

“Women have more empathy. Empathy is important when working with people. Women have better perspective and different points of view which the work place could benefit from,” he said.

“However, we have not made a conscious effort to reduce the gender gap. Job opportunities must be on merit. There need not be a glass ceiling and no mandatory requirement in employing women. As a service centered organisation, there is no barrier for women to go up in the career ladder. However, it is necessary to allow merit to take its course, he said. 

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