Striving to achieve gender equality in the Cayman Islands
There is significant work to be done to achieve gender equality in the Cayman Islands. As a community, we believe it’s our responsibility to create highly productive, profitable and stable businesses by growing truly diverse, equal workplaces.
Here at Gender Equality Cayman, it’s our mission to help businesses attain this goal by developing, promoting and distributing the tools needed to create a fair and inclusive culture at work. How are we taking steps to achieve this? Through the survey of the Cayman Islands workforce that we undertake every two years.
"During my time in 2019 as Deputy Chief Officer in the Community Affairs Ministry for the Cayman Islands Government, I witnessed first-hand the impact of Gender Equality Cayman’s work. Gender equality affects all facets of society, so it’s vital to have committed, creative, collaborative assistance from GEC. They’ve been highly effective in building support from businesses, to produce meaningful and enduring outcomes." – Andre Ebanks – Candidate for West Bay South.
Looking back to 2019
By exploring workplace dynamics, we’re initiating meaningful, constructive conversations about the positive role of gender diversity in the workplace. To understand exactly what businesses are doing right – and where they need to improve – we’re taking an inside look at the companies that surround us. Then, with your help, we’re identifying the gaps that need filling to ensure all organizations can develop fully inclusive workplaces.
This isn’t a one-off project for us, and it shouldn’t be a passing thought for your company either. By conducting extensive research every two years, we’re noticing the positive correlation between gender diversity in leadership teams and improved business performance. Ultimately, businesses that have a gender balanced leadership team are more likely to be successful and profitable.
So, we know that gender equality is vital at both a business and individual level, but what does this currently look like in the Cayman Islands?
A key takeaway from the 2019 survey showed a divergence in the results between men and women. 73% of women think women encounter barriers in career progression, whereas 45% of men held the same belief. It was also noted that, in the legal industry, an equal number of male and female graduates begin as associates, whereas – at a senior level – only a fifth of partners are female.
Overall, the 2019 survey showed that less than half of the respondents believed their current company had attained the status of an equal opportunity employer.
It’s clear that we have a long way to go in changing these statistics, so here’s where our 2021 survey comes into play. We want to see exactly how we’ve moved forward in two years, understand what else we can do to attain equality for our female colleagues, and drive for equal access to benefits, like shared family leave for our male colleagues. At the same time, we want to analyse the impact that COVID-19 has had on the state of gender equality in the workplace. To do this, we need your help.
“Within the Cayman Islands Civil Service, we’re committed to helping each person realize their full potential. Gender equality is a core principle in that, and I’m proud that half of our Chief Officers are women. Still, there’s much work ahead to achieve parity, so we continue to support the work of Gender Equality Cayman. With more than half of 2019’s respondents coming from the public sector, I encourage civil servants to lead the charge once again in participating in this important survey.” - Gloria McField-Nixon, Chief Officer of the Portfolio of the Civil Service, Cayman Islands Government.
Moving forward in 2021
In 2019, more than 1,000 participants took the survey and helped us see the current state of gender equality in the Cayman Islands. This data also provided valuable insight into the changes we collectively need to make, which we’ve been supporting our pledge companies to implement ever since.
This year, we want to reach even more members of our community, so we can incite greater change. By sharing your perspective in our 2021 survey, you’ll play a pivotal role in the history of our country, as we work together to achieve gender equality in the Cayman Islands.
Who do we want to hear from?
You’ll be aged 18-65, at any stage of your career, and actively working in any sector of the workforce in the Cayman Islands. If this sounds like you, we want to hear about your experiences, gain your insight and understand what steps need to be taken to achieve gender equality in your company.
In short, to ensure accurate results and broad representation, we need as many people to participate in the survey as possible. After all, every voice should be heard to make our workplaces truly inclusive.
"It's only when we really understand the issues that all genders face in the workplace that we can really begin to work together to solve them. The survey that Gender Equality Cayman produces every two years is instrumental in collecting this data and I would encourage everyone to participate. Gender equality isn’t a women's issue: it's a human issue and it affects us all". – Nick Rogers, Partner, Ogier.
How can you help?
First of all, fill in the survey as soon as you can. It takes less than ten minutes to complete: perfect for a morning break or over lunch. But remember, it’s only open until Friday 7th April, so don’t miss your chance.
The second way you can help: spread the word online. Once you’ve completed the survey, share it as widely as you can. If you’ve got colleagues, friends and family who live and work in the Cayman Islands, we want to hear from them too. Whatever their gender identity, encourage them to share their views.
And lastly? Keep pushing for gender equality. While it’s on your mind, think about what you could do to help improve things in your workplace. What actions could you take? How could you support your colleagues? We’re moving closer to gender equality together, and this survey is just the start.
Ready to tell us your thoughts? Click here to start the now