Creating an Inclusive Environment for Women
As reported by Statistics Canada, women make up only about 8% of the skilled trades workforce. Industry leaders admit that men and women are not treated equally or given equal opportunities for growth in the trades. Most employers don’t agree with unequal treatment and are eager to hire women. But women are less likely to join or stay in the trades due to harassment, bullying and fewer opportunities for growth compared to their male peers. To have an inclusive workplace, employers must implement strategies to support women’s success. These strategies will benefit everyone in the workplace and can include
- implementing inclusive hiring practices
- hiring more female-identifying apprentices
- providing equal wages and benefits based on level of employment
- having strict policies and procedures around workplace violence, harassment and bullying
- taking all complaints seriously, especially those related to harassment
- implementing an initiative around creating a safe space for female-identifying employees
- hiring female-identifying trainers, mentors and instructors to support apprentices
- requiring menstrual products on work sites
- providing clean and sanitary washrooms
- having separate washrooms and change rooms for female-identifying employees (also provide gender-neutral washrooms/changerooms if possible)
- providing fair parental leave and compensation
- offering support for childcare
- providing Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) designed for women or offering smaller sizes
Ill-fitting PPE is a safety hazard. In a recent report by the Canadian Standards Association (CSA), 40% of women had experienced an injury or incident related to improper fitting PPE. Here are some reputable brands that offer PPE and other workwear for women.