International Woman's Day and Equally Safe at Work

Saturday was International Woman’s Day and so it feels like an appropriate time to share with you all, that Muirhead are committed to becoming an accredited ‘Equally Safe at Work’ employer.

Equally Safe at Work is an employer accreditation program in Scotland, that supports employers in preventing violence against women and advancing gender equality at work. It is designed to align with Scotland’s national strategy for eradicating violence against women and girls.

Now, before I lose the interest of any males who are reading this blog please let me explain something. Firstly, if you stick with this post and follow our other posts over the next few weeks it will become clear why this is a movement that is necessary. Secondly, I’d like you to remember that equality for woman does not mean a loss for men. Muirhead are not on a man hating march. I don’t want power over men, I want power shared.  

Martin Luther King Jr defined power as “the ability to achieve purpose and effect change” and while Muirhead are currently a female strong team, we want to achieve purpose and effect change with anyone who shares our values.

To do this we need collective communities. And men – you are going to be a very important part of that community.

Hoping to have made you all feel a little more comfortable, we have to get back to just some of the facts and the reasons behind the strategy in the first place:

• Over 70% of woman reported having experienced or witnessed sexual harassment in the workplace in Scotland.

• 1 in 5 women experience domestic abuse in their lifetime.

• There is an 18% gender pay gap in the third sector.

These facts are uncomfortable for both men and woman to read and there are a whole lot more of them that we will be sharing with you as we work through this process.

I find it easier to focus on this as a societal issue and these things that are embedded within our society are always harder to accept, never mind change. But take a moment to reflect as a woman, as a parent of a young girl or as someone who cares about people: What sort of toys, dressing up clothes and books do you gift to girls? What sort of roles do we expect woman to have? As you learn more about this campaign, and the need for it, you will start to understand the limitations ‘we’ are putting on females by doing this. And those limitations come with some very damaging side effects.

Woman are more likely to be living in poverty (and it’s harder for them to work their way out of it). Living in poverty increases your chance of experiencing violence. Experiencing violence impacts on being able to work. Not being able to work….you guessed it…results in you living in poverty. And this will continue for woman if we continue to do nothing about it.

Last Thursday, Janine and I were invited to attend an in-person meeting with others who are part of the Equally Safe at Work accreditation. There were individuals from both ends of the employment process with one woman only starting her post in December 2024 and another woman ready to retire at the end of this year. What a legacy that will be, if her employer can make the changes necessary (and possible) for her work place to become an accredited employee.

At the ESaW training day

Out of about 20 participants, there were three males attending and perhaps as part of my compassion, I was very aware of them and how they may be feeling. Whilst women’s voices and experiences need to be heard, it’s OK for men to ask about them and share their insights and in fact it is necessary if this is going to be a change we make together. Remember – power shared, not power over.

Anna Ritchie Allan, the Executive Director of close the gap, gave an interesting presentation on the link between child poverty and gender inequality in the work place which allowed me to conclude….there is no such thing as child poverty. Of course, there are children living in poverty – but they are not doing so in isolation. And given that 97% of single parents are woman – surely the whole concept that should be looked at is ‘woman’s poverty’? My belief is that this is not something a government or society would passionately work towards solving. ‘Child poverty’ on the other hand…

We then got to hear from a representative from Shetland council who have piloted the project and achieved a lot. They were very willing to share their challenges and successes with us. I was most excited to hear about an education program that challenged gender stereotypes when it comes to employment.

When speaking about this topic with various individuals I have noticed a pattern where people like to focus on an exception to the rule. For example, my own brother is a teaching assistant (when 98% of them are female). My friend does the school run so his wife can get to work on time. You might know a woman who is the head of a company, the lead in a project or earns far more money than any males you know. Please don’t allow the story of a few to distract us from the lived experience of many.

As we work on this accreditation, we will continue to share more information. It would be great if you could share it, engage with it and if you feel the need to then challenge it – we are well informed and evidence based when it comes to the decisions we make as an organisation.

Thank you to those at Close the Gap and Equally Safe at Work. We are grateful for the opportunity to be part of this progress.

Kylie Christie - Chair of the board of trustees for MOP