Transforming gender balance in the Middle East

12 May, 2016 - Monitor Deloitte recently published a white paper “Getting the balance right- A blueprint for gender balance in the Middle East private sector” which showcases the firm’s recognition of the importance of gender balance in driving economic engines and improving organizations’ bottom line.

The white paper tackles many aspects including the importance of gender balance in the workplace, how to set the foundation for a gender agenda, conduction of a gender balance baseline assessment, articulation of a corporate gender balance, and defining gender balance initiatives, and outcome measurements.

“Today, gender balance is a growing item on the agenda of many Middle Eastern governments, civil society leaders and the wider public. Becoming a gender-friendly organization will enhance brand equity and result in direct and indirect financial gains,” said Aydin Akca, Partner at Monitor Deloitte.

“The Middle East is on a journey of economic transformation towards knowledge-based economies. An organization having a reputation for diversity, inclusiveness and a gender friendly workplace will have access to a wider qualified talent pool. The significance of this outcome will only rise as the trend of graduation rates for females outstrips males in Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates among other vital Middle Eastern markets,” he added.

The potential to develop innovative and cutting-edge gender balance initiatives is near infinite. Monitor Deloitte has developed foundational initiatives that any organization can customize, build on and then adopt.

The initial set of initiatives focuses on transforming the underlying cultural biases and perceptions around gender balance. It includes among others:

• Establish a gender balance cultural change management program with the aim of accomplishing a paradigm shift in an organization’s culture toward a bias-free and gender-inclusive workforce.
• Celebrate gender diversity by focusing the spotlight on successful women leaders and talent within the organization
• Introduce a gender-sensitive talent acquisition process by infusing certain gender criteria into the evaluation and hiring process.
• Introduce a gender-blind compensation policy that ensures “equal pay for equal work” and abolishes the gender pay gap.
• Introduce flexible working hours & work from home arrangements leveraging digital innovation to enable an efficient back and forth transition between the office and home.
• Introduce a dynamic and meritocratic women quota for senior executives to ensure that the right woman is placed in the right place to maximize her impact on the organization and avoid ghost placements to satisfy quota restrictions.

To view the full white paper, please go to: http://bit.ly/1WN0pDv

About Deloitte:

Deloitte refers to one or more of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited, a UK private company limited by guarantee, and its network of member firms, each of which is a legally separate and independent entity. Please see www.deloitte.com/about for a detailed description of the legal structure of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited and its member firms.

Deloitte provides audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services to public and private clients spanning multiple industries. With a globally connected network of member firms in more than 150 countries, Deloitte brings world-class capabilities and high-quality service to clients, delivering the insights they need to address their most complex business challenges. Deloitte has in the region of 200,000 professionals, all committed to becoming the standard of excellence.

Deloitte's professionals are unified by a collaborative culture that fosters integrity, outstanding value to markets and clients, commitment to each other, and strength from cultural diversity. They enjoy an environment of continuous learning, challenging experiences, and enriching career opportunities. Deloitte's professionals are dedicated to strengthening corporate responsibility, building public trust, and making a positive impact in their communities.

About Deloitte & Touche (M.E.):

Deloitte & Touche (M.E.) is a member firm of Deloitte Touche Tohmatsu Limited (DTTL) and is the first Arab professional services firm established in the Middle East region with uninterrupted presence since 1926.

Deloitte is among the region’s leading professional services firms, providing audit, tax, consulting, and financial advisory services through 26 offices in 15 countries with around 3,000 partners, directors and staff. It is a Tier 1 Tax advisor in the GCC region since 2010 (according to the International Tax Review World Tax Rankings). It has received numerous awards in the last few years which include Best Employer in the Middle East, best consulting firm, and the Middle East Training & Development Excellence Award by the Institute of Chartered Accountants in England and Wales (ICAEW).