Summary
The measurable business benefits of workplace gender equality (WGE) —ranging from employee well-being and enhanced reputation to improved risk management and financial performance—are well documented.[1] Additionally, transparent reporting on WGE and diversity metrics builds trust, attracts socially conscious investors and consumers, and strengthens overall business value. This brief explores how integrating robust gender data enhances the quality and credibility of a company’s Environmental, Social, and Governance (ESG) commitments, while reinforcing gender equality strategies and actions in the workplace. It also introduces the Gender Equality Assessment, Results, and Strategies (GEARS), a WGE diagnostic tool that can support companies in this process.
[1] McKinsey & Company. (2020). Diversity wins: How inclusion matters.
Highlights
- The growing focus on ESG information and disclosures means that advancing WGE can boost corporate value by improving the social and governance aspects of ESG. Linking WGE to ESG information and disclosures can help companies meet regulatory demands, demonstrate leadership, and create diverse, inclusive workplaces simultaneously. At the same time, incorporating gender data into sustainability reports enhances their quality and supports WGE strategies.
- Understanding the ESG and sustainability reporting landscape helps companies to leverage their sustainability reporting to advance WGE. However, reporting obligations are evolving, and not all metrices are clearly defined. This makes it difficult for companies to comply with emerging requirements especially around “social” aspects. Companies also often lack the frameworks, tools, or experience needed to report effectively and with confidence.
- One tool that companies can use is the Gender Equality Assessment, Results, and Strategies (GEARS). GEARS data enable analysis and reporting by looking at gender balance and employee movements, policies and implementation against leading practices, and validating findings through an employee perception survey. GEARS can also support companies to recognise overlooked aspects of WGE that have not been covered by ESG standards
- GEARS can help companies meet local reporting requirements and report against global regulatory frameworks, both voluntary and mandatory.
- GEARS has helped companies across Indonesia, Myanmar, the Philippines, and Vietnam in enhancing sustainability reporting and driving WGE with comprehensive gender data.
