Today marks International Women’s Day (IWD) – a Global Day dedicated to celebrating women’s achievements, raising awareness against bias and taking action for gender equality.
This year's theme is #BreakTheBias.
Whether deliberate or unconscious, bias continues to hold women and workplaces back.
It’s a reminder that, individually, we're responsible for our own thoughts and actions, and how even unconsciously they can impact those around us. However, it’s only by working together to enact structural change that we can #BreakTheBias on IWD and beyond.
Through our diversity and inclusion strategy we're working to create a workplace which provides equal opportunity and advancement in employment regardless of gender.
Our gender diversity action plan:
Recruit
- Recruiting for a diverse workforce by linking decision making to overall diversity and inclusion targets.
- Identifying and removing unconscious bias from the recruitment process. These include:
- Address any pay gaps identified through annual Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) reporting.
- Flexible working arrangements for men and women to meet employees’ individual needs and support a better work-life balance.
- Additional 8 weeks paid parental leave.
- Domestic violence support and parental return to work frameworks.
- Drive gender equality beyond SGS by ensuring suppliers align with our beliefs and meet set criteria.
Develop
- Actively identify upcoming female leaders throughout our talent planning process.
- Leadership training on flexible working, gender discrimination and parental leave.
- Family and domestic violence training.
- Women in leadership training program.
Lead
- Create a committee with representation from senior leadership that is responsible for implementation and oversight of the gender diversity strategy.
- Implement biannual reporting with key metrics to track progression in gender diversity.
- Undertake a diagnostic audit of gender inclusion to identify gaps and implement further actions to support gender equality.
- Our senior leaders are committed to supporting gender balance at internal and external panels, forums and events by questioning organisations and ensuring they are compliant with WGEA reporting before participating.
We’ve made important gains in representation with women now making up 40% of our workforce and 58% of our leadership positions. However, we’re not finished yet and our equal workplace ambition is an ongoing process requiring reflection every day.
Ultimately our goal is to empower women leaders to shape the TIC industry within a culture where women (and men) thrive, and their achievements are celebrated.
In celebration of International Woman’s Day, we asked our own employees to share their stories of how they’ve been empowered while working at SGS, and we’re excited to share their #BreakTheBias stories with you.
In the past 15 years at SGS, I’ve had several different roles. I started my career in a general administration position and have worked my way through the labs and into my current role as operations manager.
Without formal STEM skills I learned everything I needed along the way through training and development opportunities. This has enabled me to grow, learn, and develop new and existing skills.
All of this has been achieved while being a very actively involved mum to my beautiful daughter Kiara. From her first day at preschool and Kindergarten, Easter Bonnet Parades, Swimming Carnivals, Important Assemblies, Graduation and Formals and everything in between, I have never missed a thing.
Having a positive work and family life balance that is so important to me has shown my daughter Kiara that it is possible to be an awesome Mum and have a successful career. A valuable lesson for her to see firsthand
Bec
Operations Manager
As a curious and competitive child, obsessed with LEGO and jigsaws, a career in the world of STEM was always a natural progression for me. From a graduate in the Geochem program to Assistant Laboratory Manager, I spend each day inspiring my peers to #BreakTheBias.
Katie
Assistant Laboratory Manager
I’m proud to be SGS’ first ever female Fire Assayer, helping #BreakTheBias in a male dominated industry. Every day I #ChooseToChallenge, hoping to inspire those around me to do the same.
Elisabeth
Fire Assayer
About SGS
We are SGS – the world’s leading testing, inspection and certification company. We are recognised as the global benchmark for quality and integrity. Our 96,000 employees operate a network of 2,600 offices and laboratories, working together to enable a better, safer and more interconnected world.