Unfortunately, the battle against sexism remains a formidable challenge in the construction sector. Despite significant strides toward gender equality, many workplaces continue to grapple with deeply rooted biases and discriminatory practices that disproportionately affect women. In this blog, we offer guidance on how to break the silence and create a more positive environment for our women in construction.
Be direct
If you feel comfortable doing so, call out sexist behaviour as and when it happens. Whether it’s a throwaway comment or a more deliberate mistreatment of a colleague based on gender, let the guilty party know why what they said or did was unacceptable. While tempting, try not to explode in response and keep your tone calm and collected. This will help prompt an adult conversation rather than invite retaliation.
Remember, you’re entitled to feel offended
Whether a sexist comment was said out of malice or pure ignorance, it’s ok to express your discomfort/upset (hopefully this will prompt the offender not to offend again). In some instances this may cause friction, so if you feel safer raising concerns anonymously then speak to your manager.
Report to HR
If you are being sexually harassed in the workplace (especially if it’s on a continuous basis) then it is paramount to speak up and report the issue to HR. Sexism should not be tolerated in any setting, let alone a professional one and people should be held accountable for their actions.
Get other people onboard
There is strength in numbers and sadly, your point is more likely to be heard if it is echoed by others. Educate your fellow colleagues and make them aware of any ongoing instances of sexism in the office so they can help you call it out if/when it happens again.
Advocate for training and education
It is sad if it comes to this, but sometimes people need to be explicitly told what is wrong and right in an office environment (and in general!). Advocate for a company training day on sexual harassment to help raise awareness and help mitigate the risk of misogynistic behaviour in the workplace.
Here at Pillar Partnership we hope to see a future where sexism is eradicated and equity is championed. We care deeply about each of our candidates and want to ensure everyone we work with feels safe and supported in the work environments we help place them in.
Want to speak to the team? Give us a call on 0203 856 4048 today and let us know how we can help.
Comments