Workplace

At Something Big, we have lots of experience working within industries that are typically male-dominated, like logistics, engineering, construction, finance and tech. To start a dialogue and share insights across businesses and sectors we brought together HR, Diversity, and Internal Comms leaders for a meaningful discussion on how to attract women into traditionally male-dominated sectors and drive a better gender balance. In this article, we’ll share the insights gathered and the actionable takeaways you can use to enrich your DEI toolkit.

Are we bridging the gender gap?

There are many industries that are male or female-dominated. For example, within the construction industry, 15% of the workforce is female, with just 2% of on-site workers being female. In contrast, some industries are predominately female, with just 2.22% of nursery nurses and assistants being male. A quick glance at the statistics reveals a stark gender imbalance across various sectors.

But the big question is, are we making any progress in this area? When looking at early careers, internships, and apprenticeships, a report by the Young Women’s Trust showed that in key sectors such as engineering, men outnumber women 25 to one. This glaring inequality emphasises the need for change.

What can communicators do to attract women to male-dominated industries?

During our discussion, we identified multiple ways that communicators can drive change and address gender imbalance in the workplace.

During the recruitment process:

• Ensure that gender-biased language is removed from job ads. You can use AI tools or dedicated gendered language decoders to help you identify any subtle bias in job ads.
• Simplify technical jargon in job descriptions to better welcome new people to your industry.
• Listen to the experiences of women within your business to find out why they like working there and use that insight to understand what could attract new employees.
• Use diverse advertising channels to reach new audiences. Within our discussion group, both Mosques and school newsletters were identified as channels for reaching new audiences.
• Have diverse and inclusive imagery in your recruitment materials, while ensuring your photography is representative of your workplace and culture.

Within workplace culture:

• Recognise that the workplace can still be a challenging environment for women. 61% of Gen Z’s and 49% of Millennials believe they’ve been harassed in the workplace in the last 12 months, including physical advances, inappropriate emails, exclusion and gender-based undermining.
• Implement safe avenues for employees to speak up and seek help about any negative experiences.
• Develop a culture of allyship and consider training all team members on the 5Ds of active bystander intervention – Distract, Delegate, Document, Delay, and Direct.
• Consider the language that is used within your business. It’s common to hear things like ‘working mums’ and ‘women in business’, and often these are meant in a well-meaning way, but we never hear about ‘working dads’ or ‘men in business’.
• Properly fund, support and empower employee resource groups (ERGs) to ensure your employees have a voice. This will enable you to get to the crux of what’s working, and what’s not.

Employee communications:

• Avoid empty communications or empty promises by ensuring your communications align with your actions. Employees are quick to spot inconsistencies, and empty promises can lead to a loss of trust.
• Effective communication is not one-size-fits-all. Tailor your messages to reach employees at the right time with the right information. Avoid sending blanket messages that may make it difficult for employees to access the specific information they need.

Policies and processes:

• Scrutinize your policies and processes to identify any unnecessary barriers that hinder the hiring and retention of female talent. An example shared during our discussions was a company writing into the contract of an autistic worker that they did not need to answer the phone, making the role accessible without affecting performance.
• In the UK, men spend about 16 hours a week on unpaid tasks like taking care of children and cleaning, whereas women dedicate 26 hours a week to these responsibilities. Businesses could consider revising some policies to better support men and women in achieving a work-life balance. For example, in Norway fathers are entitled to 15 weeks of non-transferable parental leave, designed to foster a more equal split of childcare responsibilities. Whilst this might not be the regulations within your country, that doesn’t mean organisations can’t support changes like this.

Leading the charge in attracting women to male-dominated industries

In the journey toward creating more gender-diverse workplaces, it’s essential to acknowledge and support the organisations and individuals who are already pioneering change. Here are some organisations that may be relevant to your sector:

• Women in Logistics
• Women into Construction
• Women in Tech
• Women’s Engineering Society
• Women in Fire Services
• British Association for Women in Policing
• Lean In Circles – Women in Finance

As a final point within our discussion group, we underscored the advantages of cultivating a growth mindset and exchanged recommendations for three insightful books to help develop our thinking and understanding: “Lift as I Climb,” “Invisible Women,” and “Lean In.”

By adopting clear communication, shifting cultural norms, and embracing a diverse and inclusive workplace, businesses can create environments that support all employees. This not only fosters gender diversity but also contributes to a more inclusive, caring, and productive work environment for everyone.

If you’re looking for a partner agency to help make your workplace fairer, healthier and happier, then we’d love to hear from you.

In today’s world, businesses exist for more than profit alone. They can be integral parts of our communities and influence lives way beyond the boardroom.

However, one crucial aspect that often gets overlooked is the support for employees facing significant health challenges – especially those working with cancer. We believe businesses can do more, and should do more. It’s time for businesses to step up, show compassion, and enable a culture of understanding and support.

Working with cancer: the facts

• There were 18.1 million new cases of cancer worldwide in 2020
• 1 in 2 people will be diagnosed with cancer at some point in their lifetime
• Half of those diagnosed with cancer are of working age
• 50% of employees consider it difficult (or are afraid) to reveal their cancer diagnosis to employers
• 92% of patients agree that the support they receive positively impacts their health
• Rates of depression and anxiety are higher in the cancer population than in the general population
• The World Health Organization states that 30–50% of cancers are currently preventable by avoiding key risk factors

The business case for better employee support

It goes without saying that supporting your employees through significant life events, such as cancer, is the right thing to do. But there are some other more business-specific reasons too.

Improved employee culture

By encouraging a culture of understanding and support, employees will feel safer, more valued and genuinely cared for by their employer.

Reduced absenteeism and presenteeism

Businesses that help employees manage their health effectively can reduce the likelihood of extended absences or reduced productivity due to ill health.

Retain talent

Employees are more likely to stay with businesses that are able to demonstrate a real commitment to their wellbeing.

Better employee engagement

By ensuring employees feel supported during challenging times, they are likely to be more engaged and motivated in their work.

An inclusive workplace environment

By supporting employees with cancer, it sends the message that employees of all backgrounds and health statuses are valued and respected.

Industry benchmark

Businesses that prioritise employee well-being are setting a benchmark for industry standards, encouraging other companies to follow suit, and ultimately creating better corporate environments for everyone. 

What can your business do?

In the corporate world, empathy has often taken a backseat to productivity. But in recent times, more businesses are prioritising the wellbeing of their workforce and stepping up to support employees beyond their paycheck.

Here are a few things that can be offered to help employees feel supported through their diagnosis and treatment.

Provide flexible work arrangements

It’s become clear in recent years that accessible flexible working can be a game-changer to help ease the burden on employees. By allowing employees undergoing treatment to adjust their work patterns or work remotely, employers can provide much needed security and flexibility to juggle work and health more easily.

Ensure you have a cancer policy

Helping employees understand what support they can expect and how their pay will be impacted will reassure them during an emotional time. You could also take the #WorkingWithCancer pledge as an external commitment of your support to employees with cancer.

Support employees through Employee Assistance Programmes

Undergoing cancer treatment is a unique experience for each and every person. By offering a range of programmes, such as counselling, access to resource networks and talking services, you can help employees feel cared for on their own journey.

Transparent communication and employee education

Open and honest communication is the foundation of a supportive workplace culture. Clear signposting to policy documents and transparent information about available benefits, resources and support, can help employees navigate an incredibly emotional time. Employee education and engagement can further raise awareness and help create a culture of empathy amongst colleagues.

Build a community of care

Beyond policies and programmes, it’s vital for businesses to foster a community of care. Often employee communities in large organisations can offer the opportunity to connect with others undergoing similar treatments or diagnoses.

This can be achieved through maintaining an open dialogue about cancer, organising support groups, or arranging group awareness activities. Demonstrating solidarity will help employees feel like they still belong whilst undergoing treatment.

Don’t forget mental health

Cancer patients can often feel a sense of abandonment and grief once access to their hospital team and treatment has ended. By focusing on mental health, you can help employees manage ongoing physical and psychological challenges on return to the workplace.

What role can communications play?

Communication teams have a key role in helping create a supportive and empathetic work environment for employees facing long-term illness. Here are some ways that comms teams can meaningfully support employees living and working with cancer.

Open and accessible resources

• Establish and communicate clear channels for employees to talk about their health and any related concerns. This could include regular check-ins or confidential hotlines.
• Develop a comprehensive and accessible guide that provides information about available benefits, policies and other relevant resources. This could also cover employee rights regarding privacy and disclosure, as well as advice for communicating with supervisors and colleagues.

Managers’ toolkits

• Ensure that managers are aware of options for flexible working and are equipped to help employees benefit from them.
• Equip managers and supervisors with resources and tools to support employees working with cancer. This could include showing what open and empathetic conversations look and sound like.

Wellbeing programmes and employee engagement

• Provide health and wellbeing education, encouraging employees to be aware of the symptoms of cancer, health risks and advice around prevention.
• Host workshops or “lunch and learn” forums to educate employees about cancer, its treatments and how to support colleagues who have been diagnosed.
• Organise wellness activities, support groups, or workshops that focus on mental health and wellbeing.
• Maintain an open dialogue about cancer all year round (beyond awareness days), to demonstrate a genuine commitment to employee wellness.
• Provide communications and training to educate colleagues and managers on how to communicate and interact with employees who have cancer. This includes understanding boundaries, respecting privacy, and how to offer support.

Enable employee advocacy

• Employee Resource Groups (ERGs) can be valuable forums to help drive awareness and educate the workforce. Work closely with ERGs to understand what assets they require and what they need to feel supported.
• Seek feedback from employees who have faced cancer. Ask them about their experiences and any suggestions for improvement. You can then use this information to adapt and refine communications. 

It’s time to step up and support employees with cancer

Employers play a fundamental role in their employees’ lives, particularly those facing cancer. By being empathetic, offering flexibility and creating a culture of care and support, businesses can create a workplace culture that not only supports employees facing cancer but also demonstrates commitment to employee wellbeing. This, in turn, contributes to a more inclusive, caring, and productive work environment for all employees.

From awareness to prevention, to employee allyship and support, we help businesses educate their workforce and encourage employees to take care of their whole selves – both inside and outside of the workplace.

We’ve taken the #WorkingWithCancer pledge

We work hard to make Something Big a positive, supportive, and psychologically safe environment where everyone can bring their true selves to work. Many of us have been touched deeply by cancer either directly or through supporting loved ones. We’re proud to support Working with Cancer and pledge to support our team in ditching the stigma so they can feel supported by their colleagues and managers.

The facts are clear. According to Headspace’s Fifth Annual Workforce Attitudes Towards Mental Health Report, 95% of CEOs agree that their employees perform better at work when their mental health is strong and there is good recognition of the importance of mental health in the workplace. 

The Wellbeing Movement backs that up with research demonstrating that a 1% increase in employee happiness leads to a 12% increase in productivity and that workplaces with better wellbeing are 14% more likely to attract prospective talent. Additionally, poor mental health is estimated to have cost UK employers up to £56bn in 2020-2021 with burned-out employees six times more likely to want to leave their current jobs.  

Sadly, despite the impact of poor wellbeing and the commercial case to invest in improving it being clear, we still have a long way to go. Headspace’s Workforce Attitude Report found instability, productivity pressure, and rising expectations for all are driving a sense of dread in the workplace, with 87% of employees experiencing it at least once a month and 49% experiencing it at least once a week. 

According to Deloitte, 60% of employees, 64% of managers and 75% of C-suite are seriously considering quitting for a job that would better support their wellbeing. They found that a significant percentage of employees say their job negatively affects their physical (33%), mental (40%), and social (21%) wellbeing. Only around one out of three employees feel their job has a positive impact on their physical (33%), mental (32%), and social (31%) wellbeing. 

Driving a healthy culture that supports employee mental health and wellbeing

This World Mental Health Day we’re calling on leaders to plan for a better 2024. The great news is there are some clear areas to focus on and it’s not all expensive on-site yoga suites. 

Here are some of the best ways to drive a healthy culture: 

Make genuine strides in diversity, equity, inclusion and belonging

There is mounting evidence on the intersectionality of wellbeing with DEIB with 54% of employees stating that their employer’s DEIB policy has a positive impact on their mental health. 

Invest in culture

Working on driving culture can feel overwhelming, but working with someone like Great Place to Work can really help. The user-friendly platform provides you with an off-the-shelf proven and trusted employee opinion survey, benchmarking your results against other companies of a similar size. Expert analysts also review your results with you, pointing you in the direction of opportunities for the greatest improvement.

Question flexibility

Of course, the great debate on the level of working from home versus back to the office continues, but evidence shows that what employees really want is true flexibility including when they work as well as where. Feeling empowered and in control is shown to have huge health benefits. Consider opening new trials in 2024 to demonstrate that the organisation is open to more collaboration and look for a win: win for both employee wellbeing and organisational effectiveness. 

Empower employee voice

Outside of employee opinion surveys, employees want and need more opportunities to be heard. This could be through ERGs (employee resource groups), whistleblowing channels, or the introduction of a new culture of empowering and encouraging employees to call out poor behaviour. 

Ramp up purpose and volunteering

A recent study from the National Council for Voluntary Organisations found that 75% of volunteers reported that volunteering improves their mental health and overall wellbeing. Encourage employees to engage in purpose-driven initiatives and volunteering activities to foster a sense of fulfilment and connection. 

Provide mentoring support

Mentorship can positively impact mental wellbeing by fostering a sense of belonging. Establish mentoring programs to provide employees with guidance, support, and opportunities for personal and professional growth. 

Support managers and HR departments

Managers and HR departments play a pivotal role in supporting employee mental health and wellbeing. Provide them with training and resources to identify signs of stress and burn-out. 

Keeping employee health and wellbeing high on the agenda

As we approach 2024, the path to fostering a mentally healthy and flourishing workforce has never been clearer. If you are committed to prioritising your employees’ wellbeing then we share a common mission: to create workplaces that are fairer, healthier, and happier. 

Get our Employee Wellbeing Calendar, loaded with crucial awareness dates here.

From strategic employee engagement programmes to cultivating psychologically safe workplace cultures where positive mental health and wellbeing can flourish, we are here to provide the support you need.