Unlocking An Inclusive Workplace
In late 2022, Chartered Accountants Worldwide’s (CAW) global ED&I task force partnered with Magenta – a specialist research agency – to conduct the first global study to map the career journeys of women in the profession and identify the barriers and opportunities for employers to open career pathways for women to progress into more senior positions.
Barriers
Top 10 Barriers To Career Progression
More than 3,500 mid-career men and women took part in the study across 8 countries that included over forty in-depth interviews. 74% found it easier to work flexibility / at home.
Toolkit
Employers can play a hugely significant role in changing workplace culture, to ensure their people, no matter what their background, thrive. Chartered Accountants Worldwide has put together this toolkit for employers, so that you can start those conversations and embed the right practices and processes on how best to support your female talent. This is not an exhaustive list, rather a guide to set you on the right path or assist your thinking if you’ve already started your journey.
We hope that this toolkit will help your organisation drive change and support your female talent to thrive by embedding good practice; addressing the workplace culture; developing confidence and training opportunities and to think about the right networks and opportunities required to support your female workforce.
Levels
LEVEL 1: FOUNDATION LEVEL COMPLIANCE
Adhere to diversity-related laws and regulations and consider talent acquisition and establishing a positive external employer brand.
LEVEL 2: STRENGTHENING INCLUSION
Programmes and approaches that support ED&I, including mentoring programmes, initiatives to address unconscious bias, and the establishment of Employee Resource Groups, ED&I events etc.
LEVEL 3: INTEGRATED INCLUSIVE CULTURE
ED&I is viewed as integral to the business strategy, and non-inclusive behaviours are not tolerated. Leaders step up by challenging the status quo and addressing barriers to inclusion.
Links
Useful Links
Organisations across the profession are at different stages of their ED&I journey, so here is a useful link to what others are doing so we can share good practice and drive-up awareness.
Forbes: How To Support Women In The Workplace And Be An Ally (forbes.com)
Lean In: 6 Ways That Women Can Champion Each Other at Work (leanin.org)
McKinsey: Women in the Workplace | McKinsey
UN Women: Five ways to build gender equality and sustainability | UN Women – Headquarters
Accountancy firms that champion women: Accountancy firms lead the way in female representation – AAT Comment
Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland: https://www.icas.com/about-us/governance /diversity/icas-documents
Institute of Chartered Accountants of England and Wales: https://www.icaew.com/insights/divers ity-and-inclusion/welcome-inclusion
Chartered Accountants Australia and New Zealand: https://www.charteredaccountantsanz.comtools-and-resources/practice-management/diversity-equity-inclusion
Chartered Accountants Ireland: https://charteredaccountants.ie/diversity-and-inclusion/resources
