Pillar Awards: Overview
Since 1987, Women's Resource Center has honored local employers who have implemented best practices that empower women at work. WRC called this honor the Employer Recognition Award or ERA. This year, WRC unveils its Pillar Award. The name of this award has changed, but not the intent. This award will continue to showcase the noteworthy efforts of West Michigan employers who are pillars in our community.
Examples of Best Practices
I. Advancing Women in Leadership
Career Advancement Initiatives - There is a formalized leadership development for women, executive development programs, and/or staff training programs and opportunities for promotion within the organization. Examples include mentoring programs, leadership coaching, and/or networking programs.
Corporate Board Placement - The organization has a process and demonstrated a concerted effort to represent women and minorities on its board of directors/trustees.
Shattering the Glass Ceiling - Women are well-represented in upper management and executive positions in the organization and/or have made significant strides in recent years as a result of intentional efforts on the part of the employer.
II. Progressive Workplace Strategies
Work/life Balance - The organization provides benefits and work flexibility to improve the balance between employees' work life and personal life. Examples include flextime, job-sharing, telecommuting, compressed work schedules, family leave, child care and elder support, sick child/personal days, benefits for part-time employees, paid maternity leave, domestic partner benefits.
Work Environment - The organization has demonstrated initiatives that provide for a progressive work culture and improve the work environment for its female employees. These initiatives might include a comprehensive inclusion/diversity program, active as well as ongoing sexual/racial harassment prevention programs.
III. Women in Nontraditional Occupations
The employer recruits, retains and advances women in positions not traditionally held by women, such as skilled trades and apprenticeships, information/technology, mathematics, or science. (A nontraditional occupation is defined as women making up 25% or less of the defined occupation.)
IV. Opening Doors of Opportunity
This employer will have made significant efforts in the areas of hiring women who come from disadvantaged situation and give them that crucial first support in reaching their goals of self-sufficiency. Employer-supported efforts could include welfare-to-work intiatives, targeted workforce development activities, and/or implementation of specific recruitment and retention practices for the targeted population.
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