MONTREAL, March 6, 2018 /CNW Telbec/ - International Women's Day on March 8 is the perfect opportunity to reflect on the benefits of greater diversity in the corporate world. From March 8 to 31, 2018, Canadian companies with over 400 employees are invited to show their commitment by applying to Women in Governance's Gender Parity Certification.
The Parity Certification, which ranges from Bronze to Platinum levels, is back on a national scale this year. Launched by Women in Governance in 2017, it was a huge success in Quebec. In fact, 17 companies were selected and three of them reached the platinum level: RBC Royal Bank, Intact Insurance and Sun Life Financial.
Certified companies that will have most distinguished themselves in this process will be honoured at the September 11 Gala at the Montreal Convention Center. About 1,000 guests are expected at this event which will bring together business and political leaders.
The Parity Certification was established in 2017 with the support of McKinsey & Company and The Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés (Order of CHRPs) to help Canadian businesses increase the representation of women in leadership positions. In 2018, Willis Towers Watson and Mercer will also join in their efforts to launch this innovative national standard that examines various aspects of companies in 70 questions. They range from entry-level positions to decision-making bodies, as well as succession planning and the implementation of the necessary mechanisms to enable women at all levels to advance their careers. This is how we will ensure the feminization of decision-making bodies, the creation of a pool of female talent and a strong gender-balanced succession!
This program is aimed at companies that want to engage and integrate the dimension of equality into their human resources strategy, have their actions recognized and validate their policies by an independent third party. Cognibox, the platform used by more than 8,000 companies, hosts Women in Governance's Parity Certification.
"If every employer requires head-hunters and internal recruiters to submit as many female as male candidates, if we stop asking female candidates about their current salary during each interview process so as to not perpetrate wage gap patterns, if every business leader refuses that an employee sits on a board which only has male members... These may seem like small gestures but if applied with seriousness and combined with robust human resources policies for gender equality, the impact will be important in achieving gender parity in Canada", declared Caroline Codsi, President & Founder of Women in Governance.
Upcoming Women in Governance Events:
Date: Friday, March 16, 2018 from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m.
Gender Parity in our organizations: What are measures that translate into meaningful results? On the agenda: Women in Governance's Gender Parity Certification
Online Webinar by The Ordre des conseillers en ressources humaines agréés (Order of CHRPs)
http://www.portailrh.org/DP/FichePSIM-webinaire.aspx?f=120565
Monday, April 9, 2018 from 11:45 a.m. to 2:15 p.m.
Discussion panel: The politics world meets the business world (The importance of having more women in politics)
Location: Ritz-Carlton, Montreal
- François Legault, Head of Coalition Avenir Québec
- Hélène David, Minister of Higher Education and the Status of Women
- Véronique Hivon, Vice-Chair of the Parti Québécois and Deputy for Joliette at the National Assembly.
- Françoise David, former Deputy and spokesperson for Québec solidaire
- Introduction: Valérie Plante, Mayor of Montreal
- Conclusion: John Parisella, Premiers' chief of staff and former Delegate General of Quebec in New York. Author, businessman and political analyst.
- Moderation: Caroline Codsi, Founding President of Women in Governance
Tuesday, September 11, 2018 from 5:30 p.m. to 9 p.m.
Women in Governance's Annual Recognition Gala
Location: Montreal Convention Center
Under the honorary co-presidency of Paula Keays, President of McKesson Canada and Robert Dumas, President and Chief Executive Officer of Sun Life Financial Quebec, two companies that have proudly achieved Women in Governance's Parity Certification in 2017.
ABOUT WOMEN IN GOVERNANCE
Women in Governance is a non-profit organization founded in 2010 with the mission of supporting women in their leadership development, career advancement, and access to board seats. The alarming statistics on the number of women in senior positions or serving on boards of directors motivated the creation of this organization
The Women in Governance team established the first Parity Certification program in Canada in 2017. To apply for this certification (70 questions), companies must first answer a brief pre-qualification questionnaire available at: https://fr.research.net/r/2018pre-selection?lang=en
Or by sending an email to [email protected]. To be eligible, companies must have over 400 employees.
www.womeningovernance.org
An online community of nearly 50,000 members!
SOURCE Women in Governance
And interviews: [email protected], Valérie Doucet, 514-717-7208
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