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Introducing Two New White Papers on Allyship and Negotiation in the Workplace!

April 19, 2024

Written by: Vanessa Hennessey & Julianne Kim

The team here at Westcoast Women in Engineering, Science and Technology are delighted to announce two more new White Papers: “How to Be An Ally in the Workplace” and “Successful Negotiation for Employers and Employees.” These papers were created in partnership and consultation with Karen Catlin, leadership coach and acclaimed author and speaker on building inclusive workplaces; and Annika Reinhardt, Compensation Strategist and Co-Founder of Talent Collective, respectively.

There have been many positive changes in the workplace for women, non-binary folks, racialized individuals, and other underrepresented groups, however, there are still challenges that can and must be overcome. The importance of allyship in the workplace and looking at negotiation from an inclusive perspective cannot be minimized. Here at WWEST, we saw a real need to bring this information to industry, community, and academia in an easily digestible format.

Source: Pexels, by Anna Shvets

Allyship

One definition of “ally” is as follows: someone who is not a member of an underrepresented group but who takes action to support that group. This can be further explained with this great quote by Jenny Okonkwo, founder of Black Female Accountants Network: “An ally is someone who is willing to take action in support of another person to remove external barriers that impede that person from contributing their skills and talents in the workplace or community.”

Being an ally and helping others advance is a great way to create inclusivity and diversity in a workplace. Having a more diverse and inclusive organization improves governance and innovation, and overall contributes to a better sense of wellbeing at work. But it is also intersectional. “Any woman could face gender inequality at work, but a Black woman may also encounter discrimination because of her race. Your colleagues come from a mosaic of difference, and being an ally means understanding and respecting that diversity. Each person’s unique perspective contributes to making them a valuable part of the team — and a culture of allyship makes everyone stronger.” These powerful words are by Elissa Sangster of Forbes. In our new White Paper, “How to Be An Ally in the Workplace,” you’ll also find fast facts of why allyship is important, and what can be done to strengthen your organization through a culture of allyship.

Source: Pexels, by Alex Green

Negotiation

Negotiation has long been a tricky activity for women, BIPOC (Black, Indigenous, People of Colour), and non-binary folks - when hired into a new organization, or when discussing a raise for a position they are already in. Women often pay a penalty when they negotiate. They’re more likely to receive feedback that they are too “intimidating,” “too aggressive,” or “too bossy.” With our new White Paper, “Successful Negotiation for Employers and Employees,” we address both sides, by giving tips for employees and job-seekers to take charge in their negotiations with confidence, and for employers and organizations to create a more welcoming culture of negotiation.

Women workers in Canada earned an average of 76.8 cents for every dollar earned by men in 2019. And it’s not just women – other underrepresented groups, such as BIPOC individuals, LGBTQ2S+ folks, and Indigenous people also face being underpaid and struggle with negotiation. And it’s no wonder: Women ask for a raise just as often as men, but men are more likely to be successful. Until the deepest gender and racial stereotypes are broken on a systemic level, there are practical tips for women to negotiate their salaries and for employers to level their playing fields. Here’s a sneak peek from our new White Paper:

Make sure to access our NEW White Papers here, and share with your friends, family, colleagues, and managers. Check out these other resources for further reading as well: