Workshop gleichstellen.ch

Identify and record existing knowledge about the subject, any known solutions, and possibly any reservations or opposition. These posters can be referred back to in the course of the workshop.

Discussion questions :

• What really stood out for you ? Why ?
• What have you especially noticed in the development of equal opportunity policies over the years ? (Watch individual sequences again as required)
• Mr Huber, CEO of UND, says that between 2008 and 2015, 35 companies were singled out for recognition for their promotion of work/life balance. But Switzerland has half a million companies, so how relevant are these 35 companies ?
• As part of its work/life balance measures, the Buechberg Care Centre introduced longer holiday leave, longer maternity leave with better pay, free parking for employees as well as free coffee, tea and mineral water. How useful do you consider these measures ?
• What is the goal of these measures ? (Employee satisfaction and/or equality between men and women ?)
• Do internal equal opportunity policies make sense ?
• Mr Werder, managing director of Samuel Werder AG, tells us about who decides which measures will be implemented (he, his brother, the workshop manager, and Mr Erne). Who should have the power to decide whether to introduce equal opportunity measures ? Why ?
• All of the non-management employees interviewed in the video would like to see more government measures in this regard. The executives, meanwhile, prefer voluntary, company-based solutions. What is your opinion about this ?

Discussion questions :

• The CEO of Samuel Werder AG Mr Werder says at the end of the video clip that, overall, virtually nothing has been done since the introduction of the Equality Act in Switzerland twenty years ago. What needs to be done to ensure that equal professional opportunities are created for men and women in Switzerland in the next 20 years ?
• Why will it take so long (or not) for our company to achieve equal opportunities for women and men ?

Then present results/ideas to the whole.

Discussion questions :

• Does our company actively pursue a policy of equal opportunities for women and men ?
• Who is responsible for designing, launching, and implementing equal opportunity measures ?
• Do we pay women and men equal wages for equal work ?
• Does our company promote the careers and continuing education of women and mothers ?
• Are there models in place for part-time or flexible work hours for both men and women ?
•  Does our company offer parenting leave beyond the statutory minimum ?
• Do we offer day care services or other support to help parents care for their children ?
• Is there a need to work on our equal opportunities policies within our company ?

At the end of the video, you met Daniel Huber, Managing Director of UND, the office responsible for promoting work/life balance in Switzerland. Mr Huber checks companies' performance on equal opportunity and family-friendliness measures and makes recommendations for moving forward.

What problems would he find in your company and what recommendations would he make ?

Step 1:
Word associations: Participants each have 30 sec. to write down on individual post-it notes as many words as possi-ble that they associate with a phrase suggested by the fa-cilitator (random words such as spring, solidarity, or having to do with the focus of the workshop). Quantity over quality here! The post-its are collected after each round and then hung on an "inspiration board" poster.
Step 2:
This is where the actual tour of the three posts begins. Participants have 5 minutes at each post and then move on until they have visited them all. The objective is to develop as many new and creative measures to improve equal opportunities in your company as possible, and/or to deal with a previously identified problem.
Inspiration board: The post-it notes generated in step 1 can be rearranged or added to.
Random input: On the basis of random objects presented to them, participants write or draw associations related to the focus of the workshop.
Idea map: This is a brainstorming session where the idea is passed around a circle, with each new participant providing new concepts, references and links.
Step 3:
Inspired by the material provided around the room and the elements on the poster, participants each draft 3-4 ideas on improving equal opportunities within their company or developing solutions to a previously identified specific problem. This is done in pairs arranged by the facilitators. Duration: 20 minutes.
Step 4:
The pairs present their results in brief. Then the participants are given 5 glue dots each with which they can individually evaluate the ideas; all of their points can be awarded to a single idea or split among the ideas as they wish.
Step 5:
The pairs then decide on 2-3 of the most popular ideas and use them to develop concrete solutions or measures. 20 minutes

• Determine the next steps with respect to action or concrete measures
• Create a working group, etc.
• Define priorities
• Make concrete arrangements and schedule
• Define other topics to be addressed (career, parenthood, equal wage, female and male professions, part-time employment)