The IWD 2023 #EmbraceEquity campaign theme seeks to get the world talking about why "equal opportunities are no longer enough" - and can in fact be exclusionary, rather than inclusive.
Equity recognizes that each person has different circumstances, and allocates the exact resources and opportunities needed to reach an equal outcome.
This year’s International Women’s Day is about embracing equity and encouraging everyone to work together to ensure equal rights and opportunities for all women.
I started writing this article thinking about successful women who are trailblazers in the areas that I work in, and women who have made a difference in the world. As I began Googling them I noticed how celebrated these women already are, and that another article about them wouldn’t really change anything.
I shifted my focus to women who are rarely celebrated but give so much, usually sacrificing their own personal lives so they can provide and build something better for their family or their future.
This International Women’s Day I would like to shed light on the unsung heroes in a lot of households in Singapore - the domestic workers who give so much so that women with careers and jobs can continue to thrive. As a working mother myself, and coming from a female-founded and dominated (sorry 33-er boys!) business, I can’t help but notice that every successful female colleague, client, and candidate I’ve ever worked with, especially those with children, were all able to go out and reach their dreams and achieve their potential because they have someone reliable in the household to look after home affairs.
Foreign Domestic Workers have made enormous contributions and personal sacrifices to serve our community in Singapore, yet sometimes are underappreciated and undervalued. They should be recognised as individuals who have hopes and dreams like the rest of us, who just want to provide a better life for their families. They are mothers, daughters, wives, and sisters.
So this International Women’s Day, I would like to extend my thanks and gratitude to all Foreign Domestic Workers who have worked tirelessly to keep our home clean, and our children loved and looked after. Most importantly they give us peace of mind so we can pursue our own dreams.
To help FDW in Singapore, here are some great non-profit organisations:
https://www.cde.org.sg/wps/portal/cde/home
How does 33 Talent embrace equity?
.png)
Joanna Su Yin Cockle - Head of Marketing
Did you know I work a 4-day week at 33 Talent? I’m not the only one to do so. During my interview process, 33 Talent recognised I have other things going on in my life, and that taking my focus elsewhere for one day a week would not have a significant impact on results.
"I feel 33 Talent is a functioning example of how we can embrace equity in the workplace. Kathryn Woof, our founder, implemented ROWE (Results Only Working Environment) since inception which allows anyone to get their work done while fitting it around their lives. ‘Work’ is something you do, not somewhere you go. During the pandemic, many companies enjoyed flexible working hours working from home, but post-pandemic, some companies are mandating employees to go back to the office full time. There’s a whole different conversation around that, but that’s not what my commentary is about today.
I’m lucky to have some exceptional human beings in my life. This International Women's Day, I am celebrating all the smart women that surround me who work incredibly hard, but also are parents, partners, friends, daughters, sisters, mentors, volunteers, students, entrepreneurs, and fitness junkies. That’s not possible without some flexibility in your life and given that ‘work’ is what you spend a huge part of your life doing, equity in the workplace is more important than ever.
Did you know I work a 4-day week at 33 Talent? I’m not the only one to do so. During my interview process, 33 Talent recognised I have other things going on in my life, and that taking my focus elsewhere for one day a week would not have a significant impact on results. My skillset was acknowledged, and what I could contribute was worth ‘sacrificing’ one day a week. To me, that is how we embrace equity in the workplace. Wouldn’t all businesses prefer to have someone committed and feeling supported rather than unhappy employees?"