Promote gender equality and calculate your index

In 2017, equality between women and men was declared a major national cause of the five-year term. Here are four ways in which your company can contribute to this: applying the recommendations of the voluntary ISO 53800 standard of May 2024, increasing the skills of your teams responsible for the subject through training or IMPACT support, voluntarily obtaining the Professional Equality label and the mandatory calculation of the Equal Pay Index.

Building your approach with NF ISO 53800

The text begins with definitions. This is followed by “guidelines” that will enable you to draw up a roadmap with an exhaustive action plan. The appendices (15 pages) provide a series of practical examples.

The text provides help in complying with several of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), in particular SDG 5, since 104 of the UN’s 246 indicators have gender-related targets(source OECD 2020). ISO 53800 tackles the subject of gender equality through the organization’s internal dimension, its activity and investments, its external relations, as well as its internal and external communication. It covers not only the professional sphere, but all aspects of the lives of girls and women. Important point: it is not certifiable.

Recognizing gender equality in the workplace with a label

Is your company implementing a gender equality program? It’s time to make the most of this commitment, with a voluntary label!

The Égalité professionnelle label attests to your exemplary commitment to improving gender equality. It can be awarded to companies of all sizes. The assessment covers concrete actions in favor of professional equality, human resources and management management, as well as support for parenthood in the workplace, for example.

Preventing discrimination, reducing pay gaps, respecting the boundary between private and professional life… This label is a sign of recognition for companies that integrate professional equality into their CSR actions.

Training and support to promote equality

Is your company, association, institution or local authority committed to promoting gender equality and in need of an in-house expert? You can become this expert yourself, through training. AFNOR Compétences offers two modules:

• Gender equality: understanding and integrating regulations (2 days)
• Evaluate and improve your organization with the Equality label (1 day)

You can also request IMPACT support from an AFNOR Compétences coach who will come and support you internally with the aim of :

• Increase your organization’s attractiveness when recruiting by guaranteeing gender equality
• Retaining talent over time through an inclusive policy
• Define an objective equal treatment policy
• Get all teams on board and improve professional practices

What is the Gender Equality Index?

As of March 1, 2020, all companies with at least 50 employees must calculate and publish an annual gender equality index. This index must be published on the company’s website every year. Details of the indicators must also be communicated to the company’s Social and Economic Committee (CSE) and to the Direccte labor inspectorate.

This 100-point index is based on 5 main criteria (or 4 for companies with fewer than 250 employees):

• The gender pay gap
• The individual increase distribution gap
• Promotion distribution gap (for companies with more than 250 employees only)
• The number of employees returning from maternity leave with a raise
• Parity among the 10 highest earners

Is a company’s index below 75 points? Corrective measures are to be introduced, with the aim of reaching the 75-point mark within 3 years.

Our FAQ on gender equality