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This International Women's Day, we interviewed some of our team asking them to share their thoughts on how we can #ChooseToChallenge.
We can all choose to challenge and call out gender bias and inequality. We can all choose to seek out and celebrate women's achievements. Collectively, we can all help create an inclusive world.
Meet Hannah Turner, senior consultant in our actuarial team in the UK.
1. Which assumptions or preconceptions would you like to challenge about women at work in 2021?
That you have to pick either lifestyle choices (i.e. raise a family) or progression with work. I think we are definitely making progress here and that society is beginning to realise that you can in fact do both, be successful and raise a family at the same time.
2. Within your market / industry sector, what progress have you seen businesses take to progress gender equality?
There has been an increase in the promotion of women in senior positions within insurance. I think generally this helps across all levels as it provides those at the beginning of their career role models of those who have been successful in senior leadership as a woman.
3. What is one action companies can take to further balance their talent attraction strategies?
Making lifestyle a factor in the recruitment process. For instance, providing more agile working or compressed working hours.
4. What is your top advice for making job descriptions more inclusive?
Run job ads through an augmented writing service like Textio which flags all your gender (and age) biased language and makes suggestions for you to balance it out. Language is so important when beginning the recruitment process and bringing on board candidates as the majority of the time it is the first bit of engagement between employer and prospective employee so make sure it is inclusive!
5. Are there any companies you admire for the ways in which they celebrate women's achievements?
Zurich, they are great at celebrating women’s achievements, particularly on Linkedin.
6. What can organisations do to shift pre-conceived conceptions about flexible working?
Make it more accessible for everyone, and advertise this within job descriptions as an option.
7. How can organisations support their employees in raising awareness against bias?
By providing a supportive environment where everyone is treated fairly and where people acknowledge their unconscious gender bias.
