What and when is International Women’s Day?
International Women’s Day is a global observance held annually on 8 March. It celebrates the achievements of women in social, economic, cultural and political spheres.
Each year, International Women's Day has a specific theme, the theme for 2024 is “Inspire Inclusion: Empowering Changemakers”. It focuses on individuals and organizations working to foster a more inclusive world for women and girls.
International Women's Day serves as a significant event to raise awareness about gender equality and the challenges faced by women worldwide. It provides a platform to celebrate women’s achievements in various fields and amplify their voices. The day also hopes to inspire action towards creating a more just and equitable world for everyone.
What and when is Women’s History Month?
Formally recognized by US Congress in 1987, Women’s History Month has evolved into a commemoration of the diverse contributions and accomplishments of women across history. It highlights their significant roles in shaping societies, cultures, and economies worldwide.
Women’s History Month seeks to recognize the contributions of women that have often been excluded or marginalized in historical narratives. It also aims to raise awareness about the ongoing struggle for gender equality and to inspire future generations of girls and young women to pursue their dreams and achieve their full potential.
Reasons to Celebrate International Women’s Day at Work
Celebrating International Women’s Day at work holds significant importance for several reasons. It offers a dedicated opportunity to recognize and celebrate the achievements of women within your organization, fostering a sense of inclusion and inspiring others to strive for excellence.
Additionally, observing International Women's Day demonstrates the organization’s commitment to gender equality, creating a welcoming environment attractive to talent who value diversity and inclusion. It helps raise awareness about unconscious biases and initiates conversations on creating a more equitable workplace. Furthermore, celebrating International Women's Day can enhance employee engagement, morale and team cohesion while bolstering the organization’s public image and brand reputation.
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Ways to Celebrate International Women’s Day at Work
Now that we’ve covered the fundamentals of International Women’s Day and its significance in the workplace, let’s dive into how to celebrate International Women’s Day at work.
1. Highlight achievements
To kick off our list on how to celebrate International Women’s Day at work, consider dedicating a physical or virtual space in the office to showcase ongoing projects, initiatives, and achievements led by women in the organization.
Recognizing women’s contribution in areas like leadership, innovation, and mentorship is crucial, and this can be effectively achieved through an awards ceremony.
Omni Tip on how to celebrate International Women’s Day at work:
Be sure to showcase success stories and accomplishments from various departments to underscore the diverse impact of women within your organization!
Read next: 12 Employee Recognition Examples to Keep Your Team Engaged All Year
2. Host professional networking events
Organizing internal or external networking events is a fantastic option on how to celebrate International Women’s Day at work. These events offer women from different levels and departments the opportunity to foster collaboration and share knowledge. Inviting female mentors and role models can provide younger employees with valuable insights and connections.
Additionally, consider offering sessions on topics such as career development, negotiation skills, or confidence building to empower women in the workplace.
3. Invite a guest speaker
To further enrich International Women's Day celebrations at work, organizing panel discussions featuring diverse voices can shed light on the challenges and opportunities for women in your industry, fostering a deeper understanding of current issues. Consider inviting guest speakers to address relevant topics such as gender equality, unconscious bias, or women in leadership. These speakers can offer valuable insights and inspire meaningful conversations among employees.
Omni Tip on how to celebrate International Women’s Day at work:
How about hosting a film screening for International Women’s Day? Pick films that resonate with the theme, and then chat about them afterward. Choose films with subtitles or in multiple languages for everyone to enjoy!
4. Women’s history trivia
Next up on how to celebrate International Women’s Day at work is hosting a women’s history trivia challenge. This fun and engaging activity not only raises awareness about the remarkable achievements and contributions of women across history but also promotes a positive company culture that values diversity and inclusivity.
By celebrating the legacy of women who have shaped our society, this trivia challenge encourages participants to learn more about inspiring individuals and deepen their understanding and appreciation of gender equality and women’s empowerment.
5. Create an inspiration wall
Creating an inspiration wall to celebrate International Women’s Day is a fantastic way to honor the achievements and contributions of women. The aim of the inspiration wall is not only to celebrate the success of women but also serve as a source of inspiration for others.
Encourage employees to share their favorite inspirational quotes, their own stories or share how they have been inspired by women in their lives. This activity can foster a sense of community and empowerment among employees, encouraging them to support and uplift one another.
6. Host a book club
An enlightening way on how to celebrate International Women’s Day at work is to host a book club. Choosing books written by female authors or focusing on themes related to women’s experiences, achievements and challenges can spark meaningful conversations among employees. It also provides an opportunity for readers to broaden their perspectives, empathize with different cultures, and appreciate diverse voices.
Additionally, a book club can promote a culture of continuous learning and inclusivity within the organization, creating a supportive and positive environment for all employees.
7. Donate to charity
Donating to charity is an impactful way to celebrate International Women’s Day and support causes that support women and girls globally. Some notable organizations include World Association of Girl Guides & Girl Scouts (WAGGGS), Room to Read, AWARE SG and The Asia Foundation.
By contributing to movements that focus on issues such as gender equality, education, healthcare, and economic empowerment for women, employees can make a positive impact on the lives of women in need.
8. Provide learning and development initiatives
Another powerful way on how to celebrate International Women’s Day at work is to invest in learning and development initiatives tailored to address skill gaps among women.
By offering training programs and workshops focused on leadership, technical skills, and personal development, organizations can empower women to advance their careers and bridge the gender gap. These initiatives benefit both individual employees and the organization by fostering a more diverse and inclusive workplace culture.
9. Examine pay parity
Examining pay parity is an impactful way to celebrate International Women’s Day at work. By analyzing and taking concrete actions to address any gender pay gaps, it demonstrates the organization’s commitment to gender equality and fair compensation practices.
This process involves evaluating salary structures, promotion practices, and bonus allocations to ensure that women are not disadvantaged. By sharing the findings and taking correct actions, it not only promotes fairness but also boosts employee trust and morale.
Read next: How to Eliminate Gender Discrimination in the Workplace
10. Promote work-life balance
Last but definitely not the least on our list on how to celebrate International Women’s Day at work is to promote work-life balance. By implementing flexible work arrangements, providing childcare support, and offering resources for mental health and wellness, organizations can empower women to achieve a better balance between their professional and personal lives, reducing the risk of employee burnout.
Recognizing the importance of work-life balance not only benefits women but also contributes to a more inclusive and supportive workplace environment for employees. It highlights the commitment to gender equality and acknowledges the diverse responsibilities and priorities that women often juggle. Ultimately, promoting work-life balance in the workplace can lead to increased job satisfaction, productivity, overall well-being and reduced attrition rates among employees.
Leveraging HRIS to Champion Women at Work
Celebrating International Women’s Day in the workplace is not just about recognizing women’s achievements and impacts, but also about promoting gender equality and diversity. By referencing our list on how to celebrate International Women’s Day at work, organizations can create a more inclusive and supportive work environment where women can thrive.
HRIS like Omni can play a crucial role in bridging the gap by providing tools for tracking gender diversity metrics, identifying areas for improvement, and implementing policies that promote work-life balance and gender equality.
Omni’s streamlined leave management module allows easy administration of inclusive leave policies and benefits administration, supporting parental leave, managing L&D benefits, and administering wellness stipends to help promote work-life balance and tools to uplift the women within your organization.
Our comprehensive payroll solution provides impactful insights to seamlessly review, address, and prevent pay parity issues. Advanced performance management modules provide real-time performance data, helping HR teams swiftly identify and address skill gaps, so you can provide your teams with the training and tools they need to help boost overall performance and nurture talent.
Creating a healthy, supportive and positive work environment not only enhances workplace experience but also enables employees to realize their full potential and stay engaged. This approach enhances your company’s competitiveness in today’s ever-changing market conditions. Omni’s scalable, all-in-one employee management software can help your business automate and streamline the most complex administrative HR functions so you can consistently build high-performing, diverse, and inclusive teams.
Join the 83% of Omni customers who have unlocked new, actionable insights after using our modern HR solution, book a demo with our team today.
