Resources for tackling power and privilege in the workplace
An enabling environment should not rely solely on the discretion of individual managers. Policies formalize standards and processes and their implementation can be tracked, monitored and reported.
The majority of organisations under review operate in countries with legal frameworks that protect workers against discrimination, including equal employment opportunity laws and equal pay laws. Yet while such laws are essential, they are insufficient to level the playing field when individual bias and institutional discrimination continue to reinforce existing systems of power.
“If more young people take action, we can collectively ensure that organisations will have to change for the better.”
David Zezai, researcher and member of the Global Health 50/50 Collective
For organisations which have entrenched power asymmetries, addressing equality needs to go further still and delve into the past, interrogating historical injustices, identifying how they are perpetuated through existing power structures, and taking action. For example, this could mean putting specific measures in place to support the careers of historically underrepresented groups. The movements to decolonise and achieve gender equality in global health provide examples of why redressing past injustices through positive action is a vital step.
There are a multitude of resources to guide employees, leaders and organisations in developing policies which promote and realise everyone’s rights in the workplace. A selection of such resources are presented below for guidance across a range of policy areas, including from organisations in the GH5050 sample.
The following resources offer information and guidance for organisations on implementing workplace measures on equity, diversity and inclusion and/or updating policies and practices in response to the COVID-19 pandemic. GH5050 has not verified the accuracy of information in these links, but we list them as a source of further information:
Family-friendly policies:
International Network on Leave Policies & Research - Country Reports - Reports on maternity, paternity, parental leave and leave to care for sick dependents available by country
International Network on Leave Policies & Research - Defining policies - Definitions of maternity leave, paternity leave, parental leave and leave to care for children who are ill
International Labour Organisation - Maternity and Paternity at Work - Review of national law and practice on maternity and paternity at work across the world
Global Health 50/50 - How to Develop Family Friendly Workplace Policies - Guide for organisations developing parental leave, flexible working and family-friendly workplace policies
Sexual harassment:
UN System Model Policy on Sexual Harassment - Includes key components of a sexual harassment policy and definitions of terminology
UN Women-ILO- Handbook: Addressing violence and harassment against women in the world of work
Global Health 50/50 - How to Develop a Comprehensive Sexual Harassment Policy
Diversity and Inclusion:
Corporate Equality Index 2021 - includes recommended policies and measures for LGBTQ-inclusive workplaces
Stonewall - Best practices, toolkits and resources - collection of resources for organisations creating an LGBT+ inclusive workplace
UK Government - Race in the workplace - the McGregor Smith Review - independent review and recommendations on behalf of UK Government
National Council of Nonprofits - Why Diversity, Equity and Inclusion matter for Non-Profits
Gender parity and diversity within leadership:
World Bank - Women Business and the Law - Measures gender inequalities in the law in over 170 that impact women’s employment
World Economic Forum - Global Gender Gap Report 2020 - Index of gender parity in over 150 countries
BoardSource - Diversity, Inclusion and EquityBoardsource - Diversity, Inclusion and Equity - resources for inclusive, diverse and equitable boards - resources for diverse, inclusive and equitable boards
UN Women - Global norms and standards: Leadership and political participation - Overview of internationally agreed norms and standards relating to women’s leadership and political participation
2020 Bloomberg Gender-Equality Index - Tracks gender equality performance of public companies
Gender pay gap:
Eurostat Gender Pay Gap Statistics - Gender pay gap data by country across the EU
UK House of commons Gender Pay Gap Briefing Paper - Statistics and analysis of the gender pay gap in the UK
Global Health 50/50 - How to: Measure and Address the Gender Pay Gap in Global Health - Guide for organisations seeking to address their gender pay gap
ACAS Managing Gender Pay Gap Reporting - Guide for UK employers on how to report on and address the gender pay gap
COVID-19 and Equality, Diversity & Inclusion at work:
ILO - An employers’ guide on working from home in response to the outbreak of COVID-19
Equality and Human Rights Commission - Coronavirus (COVID-19) guidance for employers - guidance for UK employers on preventing discrimination during the pandemic
Unison - Bargaining for workplace practices during the easing of Covid-19 lockdown - guidance on ensuring an inclusive approach to returning to the workplace
Acas - Coronavirus and mental health at work Coronavirus and mental health - guidance and advice for employees
Acas - Managing mental health in the workplace - online training and events on mental health in the workplace guidance from ACAS
