GEMA
GEMA
Organizational structure, culture and work processes of companies, organizations and institutions that are aware of the importance of gender mainstreaming excel in the following characteristics:
The organization is aware that the lives of its employees are more than just their time spent in the workplace and adjusts the work processes accordingly.
It confirms that the organization’s management appreciates and appropriately rewards the work of its employees, regardless of their gender, thus striving transparently for the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value.
Mixed teams enable the integration of different perceptions and perspectives on the problem, successfully creating sustainable and viable solutions for the widest possible range of consumers.
Strengthening the organizational culture not only enhances the reputation of the organization, but also contributes to the well-being of employees in the workplace by promoting positive values.
The organization is aware that the lives of its employees are more than just their time spent in the workplace and adjusts the work processes accordingly.
It confirms that the organization’s management appreciates and appropriately rewards the work of its employees, regardless of their gender, thus striving transparently for the principle of equal pay for equal work or work of equal value.
Mixed teams enable the integration of different perceptions and perspectives on the problem, successfully creating sustainable and viable solutions for the widest possible range of consumers.
Strengthening the organizational culture not only enhances the reputation of the organization, but also contributes to the well-being of employees in the workplace by promoting positive values.
Not only is the organization with a wider recruitment pool capable of attracting and successfully retaining the strategically best human resources; gender equality in the workplace also facilitates overall organizational flexibility, offering multiple profiles and different perspectives at any given time.
The absence of gender stereotypes and expectations for alignment with the socially attributed gender roles of individuals enables employees to have a free work environment in which they can feel comfortable. This does not only affect their productivity – the well-being of employees is also an efficient mean of reducing losses due to sick leave and possible outflows due to labor fluctuations.
Gender-diverse employees are a source of greater innovation and creativity, which in the long run also offers opportunities to opening up new markets. In addition to flexibility, the heterogeneity of working teams also affects the ability to progress and, consequently, stimulates a better economic outcome.
Since measurements within companies or organizations are done on an individual level, they are, of course, adjusted to the size and the industry in which the organization operates, and also to the current context of the labor market. In any case, the process of obtaining a certificate encourages the further development of already existing positive practices of the company or organization.
Every company or organization that wants to get certified is embarked on a three-step challenge, during which it changes from an entity seeking change to an entity that can serve as a positive example for changing others and even society at large.
This stage comprises the initial stage in which a company or organization decides to obtain a certificate. To this end, a comprehensive audit process of the organizational structure, organizational culture and work processes of the company or organization is conducted through the prism of gender. By analyzing the answers and results obtained from surveys with employees and in-depth interviews with management, the Gender Equality Research Institute, with the assistance of experts, prepares an individualized, tailor-made set of measures for the effective integration of gender equality in the operation of a company or organization.
The company or organization incorporates the proposed measures into its operations. For the purpose of effective and successful involvement, the Gender Equality Research Institute provides training for management personnel and educational workshops for employees on gender equality issues. It also presents measures to a company or organization. Thus, the company or organization begins to actively work on a positive change in internal processes in favour of gender equality in employment and in the workplace, which in turn leads to greater business efficiency.
The company or organization communicates its activities in the field of gender equality externally, thus becoming an example of good practice. Through regular education, training and certification renewal, it prominently strives for an inclusive organizational culture, better optimization of human resources and the well-being of its employees, resulting in a greater reputation for the latter. The Gender Equality Research Institute also provides certified companies and platforms with a platform to share experiences in integrating gender-friendly measures into their operations.
An assessment of the existing situation in the company or organization includes an overview of existing work processes, organizational structure, employee surveys (which provide an insight into the current organizational culture of the company or organization), an in-depth interview with management and an inquiry about possible good practices already established.
Based on the information obtained, the staff members of the Gender Equality Research Institute carry out a comprehensive analysis of the situation and, based on the latter, propose a tailor-made set of measures for the field of gender equality for each individual company or organization.
Based on the proposed measures, employee training and custom leadership training are prepared. In addition to presenting individual measures and the reasons for them, the participants also get acquainted with informative materials on specific aspects of gender equality in employment and in the workplace.
When a company or organization successfully implements the proposed measures in its internal legal acts and completes further measurements of the pay gap, it receives a certificate. The latter should be renewed every two years to ensure continuity and credibility of the concern of the company or organization for socially responsible behavior in the field of gender equality.
After receiving the certificate, the company or organization can start communicating about the latter, both internally (with its employees) and outwardly, with the general public. This does not only contribute to its reputation among consumers, but also makes it possible for the company or organization to recruit and retain the best staff for the longer period of time.
With a regular renewal of the certificate, which is required every two years, the Gender Equality Research Institute takes care of all the necessary measurements again. In the entire period between the receipt and renewal of the certificate, the latter ensures continuous awareness-raising activities and education for employees and management on all possible legislative changes in Slovenia, legislative trends at European Union level and global guidelines in the field of corporate social responsibility.