We have been commemorating International Women’s Day for years as a company as we want to highlight the importance of inclusion and equity, not only in the workplace but further into everyday life.

We interviewed some of our team and asked what embracing equity means to them:

Andrew, Managing Director

What does embracing equity mean to you?

It means trying to take a proactive role in pursuing fairness in the workplace and beyond. Trying to be a part of the solution, and taking positive action, rather than being a passive observer.

How does your association/company embrace equity?

We have more female than male members of the team. We develop and offer opportunities to all colleagues equally. We have a strong female presence within the leadership of the business. We discuss and challenge our approach periodically within SMT meetings.

Throughout your career, have you seen a change in how companies have embraced equity in the work place?

Yes. The single most noticeable change for me is the proportion of leadership positions (including Board and NED) now filled by women. This seems to have shifted from something businesses felt they ‘ought’ to do, to being something that now just feels natural, sensible and beneficial.

What more do you think society could do to embrace equity?

Society is getting better at spotting, and challenging, inequity – and of course fair treatment is enshrined in law. I would like to see even more women in enabled to operate in positions of political leadership next.

Is there a person or company who has inspired you with their approach towards embracing equity? Can you tell us about them?

It has been impressive and encouraging to see a younger generation of women elected to power in places like New Zealand and Finland. Next, we need to start nurturing a more positive and less toxic environment within politics – by listening to the experience of and feedback from leaders such as Jacinda Ardern and Nicola Sturgeon.

Katie, Account Executive

What does embracing equity mean to you?

For me, embracing equity means getting to a place where all people regardless of their gender, colour or socio-economic background are presented with the same opportunities, progression and pay without one having to battle and work harder that the other.

How does your association/company embrace equity?

PH don’t hire by gender, the team is predominantly made up of women. They also don’t discriminate against hiring working parents. They hire based on talent regardless of the form that it comes in.

Throughout your career, have you seen a change in how companies have embraced equity in the work place?

Absolutely, I have seen a lot of change in the diversification of management teams across a variety of industries.

It was very noticeable to me when I returned to working after having children, before having children I had always been surrounded by predominantly male management teams, especially at the most senior levels. Since returning back to work the companies I have worked for have all had women alongside men at the senior levels, 2 of those companies have had significantly higher ratios of women in management.

What more do you think society could do to embrace equity?

• Close pay gaps.
• Giving equal opportunities to all. I still think there is a way to go in broadening ethnic diversity in companies management teams.
• Speak up and hold people accountable for discriminating behaviour in the work place and day to day life towards gender, race, disabilities, working parents, etc.

Is there a person or company who has inspired you with their approach towards embracing equity? Can you tell us about them?

Joeli Brearley – The founder of (now a charity) Pregnant Then Screwed.

She has fought for equality for pregnant women and parental rights in work places, has become an advocate for flexible working for parents, taken legal action against the government for indirect sex discrimination, supported over 81,813 women through their free advise line in 2021.

After being fired from the children’s charity she worked for the day after she told them she was pregnant, she has helped thousands of women and families get justice and support when facing this type of discrimination in the work place.

https://pregnantthenscrewed.com/

Georgia, Account Executive:

What does embracing equity mean to you?

To me this means having equal rights in not just your work life but in life in general. Women should be able to earn more money than men and not be frightened to show it off; they should be able to be a mother and not feel guilty by it. Women should be able to stand proud and embrace being a woman – there is nothing wrong with that!

How does your association/company embrace equity?

Parliament Hill doesn’t look down on you or think smaller of you just because you are a woman. We are able to speak our opinion without being shut down. We are able to make our way up the ladder and be proud of the job title we have. We are able to speak freely if we are having ‘ women issues’ or if it’s the ‘time of the month’ and its mentally and physically affecting us. Yes this helps as PH are predominantly made up of women but I don’t feel ashamed if it is an issue and I need to talk to a male member of staff.

Throughout your career, have you seen a change in how companies have embraced equity in the work place?

Yes absolutely! I have worked for a company that didn’t quite understand parenthood like PH does. I was made to feel like I was ‘lying’ when my daughter got sick over bank holiday weekend so I needed to take a couple of days off. I was made to feel guilty for needing to stay at home for my daughter.

Working in a respectful and understanding and equal workplace is extremely important and being able to feel comfortable with your employer is the kind of workplace you should surround yourself in.

What more do you think society could do to embrace equity?

• Stop doubting women cannot do a ‘male’ job ( like manual labour).
• Support and pay more attention to women’s sport – The world cup definitely helped with this and the turn out for supporters was record breaking but I think this needs to be more normalised.
• Women should be able to speak their word when they feel discriminated by male employees – they shouldn’t feel like they cant stand up for them self JUST because their manager is a male.

Is there a person or company who has inspired you with their approach towards embracing equity? Can you tell us about them?

Yes!!

Josephine Baker – the first black woman to star in a motion picture, to perform with an integrated cast. This woman is so inspiring and stood up to what she knew was equality.

And most importantly...

Emily Wilding Davison – a suffragette woman who threw herself in front of the kings horse and unfortunately passed away to stand up for women’s voting – SHE is the reason I vote. Every election I am able to vote on I tell my friends SHE is the reason women’s rights started. SHE is the reason we have a vote.