Woman & Work Desk is officially up and running!
We are super proud of our new initiative: the Woman & Work Desk! This new Desk offers both organizations and women a valuable place to grow and strengthen each other. Organizations that really want to work structurally on the topic of women & work will find a strategic partner at the Women & Work Desk. Women who have personal questions or experiences about work, health or development can come here for advice and inspiration.
Urgency in the workplace
Many organizations have diversity and inclusion on the agenda, but struggle with a structural approach. Work systems often do not sufficiently match the needs and life stages of women, causing talents to drop out or drop out. This not only costs knowledge and innovative power, but also leads to many women themselves remaining stuck with questions: how do I stay healthy at work, how do I develop my talents and how do I find the right balance between work and private life?"
"What gets me moving is that I see that absenteeism among women is relatively high and that there are various factors that influence sustainable advancement. Think of extra care responsibilities, workload and topics like pregnancy and transition, which often still have little space in organizations." That has a huge impact, at work and at home. "That is why it is so important to better connect work environments," says initiator Anne Smulders, director of occupational health and safety service Bloeij.
From awareness to assurance
The approach of the Woman & Work Desk rests on four pillars -work environment, work happiness, health and talent development- and follows a clear six-step plan. This gives organizations concrete tools to sustainably change culture and policy.
Workshops and events are often the first step to get the conversation going, but the power lies in the strategic guidance that follows. "With the Women & Work Desk, we want to achieve that women are healthy and happy at work, that advancement opportunities become truly sustainable and that work systems are better aligned with women's bodies, talents and moral compass," Anne says. "It is important to research and understand women as a specific target group, precisely in order to achieve change that benefits everyone in the organization."
Collaborating on a movement
The Women & Work Desk works closely with research and knowledge partners such as TNO, Tilburg University and Markteffect. Insights from research are translated directly into practical solutions for organizations.
In addition, the Desk is connected to a broad network that strengthens the social movement, such as:
- PSV Women - As a shirt sponsor through Fe+Male Tech Heroes, Driessen Group contributes to the visibility of women in sports and technology.
- Sterk aan het Werk - Together with this initiative of the Driessen Foundation, sustainable opportunities are being built for women who need extra support.
- Art Route Woman & Work - At the Brainport Human Campus in Helmond, an inspiring route has been set up that makes the theme of woman & work visible through art and culture.
About the Woman & Work Desk
The Woman & Work Desk is an initiative of Driessen Group. As a B Corp-certified company, we are committed to making work more people-oriented and future-proof. With the Woman & Work Desk, we add a strategic pillar to our offering, helping organizations to fully utilize female potential.
At the same time, the Desk offers women a place to share their questions, concerns or experiences and find answers. "As a mother of three daughters, I want to make sure that later on they end up in work environments where they can be themselves and fully utilize their talents. This is the movement we want to initiate together with organizations," Anne concludes.
The Woman & Work Desk is thus there for women who want to grow as well as for organizations that want to strengthen. We are proud of this new initiative within our family of companies!
More information? Go to www.vrouwenwerk.nl.