Attention on Corporate Culture Realizing Gender Equality on 'International Women's Day'

[Asia Economy Reporter Donghyun Choi] March 8 marked the 110th 'International Women's Day.' The International Women's Day Committee (IWD2022) announced this year's theme as '#BreakTheBias,' symbolizing the pursuit of a world without prejudice. Through this, they plan to promote gender equality, respect diversity, and carry out activities to break biases.

To realize gender equality that everyone can feel and to move toward a better society, a deep reflection on the issues and the establishment of practical environments to resolve them are necessary. Accordingly, companies are creating inclusive cultures in employment and working conditions so that all employees can demonstrate their capabilities in workplaces where equal opportunities are provided.

Home furnishing retail company IKEA Korea is striving to create a work environment based on 'fairness and inclusion' as a people-centered company. They are fostering a culture that values diversity and inclusion, where all coworkers respect each other's different characteristics such as gender, age, and disability status. Based on this, they provide the same working environment and welfare benefits to everyone.

They are also committed to realizing gender equality in the workplace. They aim to achieve a 50-50 gender ratio across all positions, including managerial levels. As of the end of the 2021 fiscal year, 60% of IKEA Korea's total employees and 50% of managers are women. Additionally, they set and pay wages based on the same standards for all coworkers regardless of gender.

Support for work-family balance is also generously provided. Female coworkers at IKEA Korea can take 180 consecutive days of paid maternity leave. Male coworkers whose spouses give birth can take 30 consecutive days of paid paternity leave. The daycare centers called 'DAGIS' operated at each store are also one of IKEA's representative welfare programs. By running daycare centers that provide quality education and care, they reduce the childcare burden on coworkers.

Korea P&G prioritizes achieving 50-50 gender equality in all aspects of the company and strives to create an equal and inclusive working environment. To establish gender equality within families, they provide male employees whose spouses give birth with eight weeks of paid leave, longer than the statutory holiday, through childbirth and childcare leave policies. This effort aims to spread the awareness that childcare is a shared responsibility of parents and that men can also be primary caregivers.

They also operate programs to support female employees' careers. Through the in-house women's network 'Lean-in Circle,' employees share their concerns and coping strategies to solve business and career issues. Additionally, the 'Career Week,' where employees can learn about senior employees' career development processes, is held annually.

Nongshim Kellogg announced a new 'ED&I' (Equity Diversity & Inclusion) vision last year, titled 'Let’s become the best company through a culture of diversity and inclusion that accepts differences but guarantees equity for all.' They are also leading efforts to recruit female talent and strengthen leadership through 'WOK' (Women of Kellogg), established to support women's career advancement. Every year, they commemorate International Women's Day and work to spread the values of gender equality and diversity.

Hansae Yes24 Group's subsidiary Hansae Co., Ltd. boasts a high proportion of female executives at the executive director level and above. In 2019, it ranked first in the 'Top 500 Companies by Sales Female Executive Status' announced by the Ministry of Gender Equality and Family, with a female executive ratio of 50% at that time, and received an award.

Hansae Co., Ltd. is committed to creating a work environment and providing welfare that helps female talents continuously develop their abilities without career breaks and increase the proportion of female executives. To support work-family balance, they opened an on-site daycare center and offer various welfare benefits such as flexible working hours and encouragement of parental leave.

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.