Rhonda Clark, TCC Chief Empowerment Officer
The term "glass ceiling" refers to the invisible barrier that exists in the workplace, preventing women and minorities from advancing to higher positions, despite their qualifications and achievements. This is a major issue across several industries globally, and it has been addressed by numerous studies and reports in recent years.
According to statistics, women are particularly affected by the glass ceiling.
Despite comprising nearly half of the workforce, they hold only 6.4% of CEO positions at Fortune 500 companies and only 23.7% of board seats in S&P 500 companies. Furthermore, they hold only 34% of all managerial positions. Minority groups are also greatly affected. African and Latinx professionals are particularly underrepresented in leadership positions. For instance, only 4.4% of Fortune 500 CEOs are African or Latinx, and only 3.2% of board seats are held by African professionals.
The glass ceiling is a challenge that needs to be addressed urgently. Employers can take several steps towards this goal. For one, they can establish diversity and inclusion policies that encourage the hiring and promotion of a diverse range of employees. This can also involve providing equal opportunities for career advancement. Employers can also provide training and development opportunities to their employees. This can include mentorship programs, leadership training, and skills development workshops.
To mitigate unconscious bias in the hiring and promotion process, employers can use objective criteria to evaluate candidates. They can also provide training to hiring managers and supervisors on how to identify and overcome bias.
Employers can promote work-life balance among their employees by offering flexible work arrangements such as telecommuting and job sharing. This can help employees balance their work and personal responsibilities and make it easier for women to advance their careers while raising a family.
It is worth noting that accountability is key in the fight against the glass ceiling. Employers can measure and track progress towards diversity and inclusion goals. They can also set targets for the representation of women and minorities in leadership positions and regularly report on progress towards these goals.
The glass ceiling continues to be a significant issue in the workplace, particularly affecting women and minority groups. Employers have a critical role to play in addressing this problem. From establishing diversity policies and providing training and development opportunities to promoting work-life balance, employers can take several steps towards breaking down the barriers that create the glass ceiling. This would lead to a more diverse, equitable, and inclusive workplace.
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We bring combined expertise HR, diversity building, effective communication, mindset management, & culture change. We bridge a number of worlds, from business to the nonprofit sector to higher education. This gives us the perspective to work in any industry and the ability to support the creation of an empowered culture.
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