Gender equality in the workplace: How to build on recent progress to reach true parity

Gender equality is a core value of the EU, a fundamental right and key principle of the European Pillar of Social Rights. The Gender Equality Strategy, that includes legislative proposals for achieving pay transparency, frames the European Commission’s work on gender equality. It aims at achieving a gender-equal Europe where gender-based violence, sex discrimination and structural inequality between women and men are a thing of the past. In order for both men and women to engage equally in the labour market, caring responsibilities have to be shared equally. This is at the core of the EU’s Directive on work-life balance for working parents and carers. In today’s environment, it has never been more critical for companies to demonstrate their commitment to addressing gender inequality. The COVID-19 pandemic has made things worse for gender equality in the workplace. Professions and employment forms where women are most represented are harder hit by the economic downturn, and women are taking the load of extra care and home schooling duties during lockdown. But the crisis also represents an opportunity. If companies create more flexible and empathetic workplaces, they can nurture a culture in which women have an equal opportunity to achieve their potential.