Your company can’t fix all the world’s problems, but you can make your workplace more gender-equitable for everyone while accomplishing your corporate mission. And why not do it with humor?
Let The Syndrome help you lighten up and enlighten your employees so you can enhance morale, teamwork, and retention while reducing interpersonal conflicts and communication problems.
Gender Inequality in the Workplace
Workplace gender equality is achieved when people are able to access and enjoy the same rewards, resources and opportunities regardless of gender. Unfortunately, gender inequality is still a widespread issue experienced across different industries, manifesting itself in a variety of behaviors, communication styles, and circumstances. Women are most likely to be affected directly by gender imbalance and inequalities, but the problem is one that can taint everything an organization does including hiring and retention, discipline and promotions.
Companies need to develop a culture that supports and cultivates female talent. This means implementing programs that help women not only stay in the workforce but thrive in their jobs.
Why Gender Equality in the Workplace Matters
Global research shows that companies committed to gender equality are more effective, perform better financially, and deliver more innovative products and services. Here are some of the benefits, among others:
- Better company reputation – How a business is represented to an audience, employee and potential talent pool is a key definer in its overall success
- Better company profits – Diversity in leadership and perspective, and better employee satisfaction levels have been proved to lead to better profitability
- More productive company culture – Due to diversity in decision-making, problems can be approached from a wider set of perspectives
- Enhanced ability to attract talent and retain employees – Employees want to work for companies who value their unique capabilities
Above all, gender equality is a fundamental human right and every individual has the right to be treated fairly and realize their full potential in the work environment and in life.
Gender Equality Blind Spots
Organizations often have blind spots when it comes to gender inequality. An important first step in overcoming gender discrimination and inequality is to recognize that it’s happening: We can’t solve problems that we don’t see or understand clearly. With live targeted sketch comedy shows, The Syndrome can help highlight unconscious bias and spark positive conversations that lead to real change.
The Power of Humor as a Communication Tool
Used appropriately, comedy is both entertaining and inclusive. It can highlight situations by exaggerating them and reveal blind spots almost as if exposing them under a magnifying glass. Humor can be used to pass difficult messages and encourage those in the audience to discuss hot topics.
Live Sketch Comedy Shows
The Syndrome has created a sketch comedy show format based on feedback received by numerous manager and staff from different industries. We write sketches designed to focus on one specific issue revealed from surveys we created and used to gather data from a number of worksites.
Our shows are written by professional comedy writers and performed by experienced improv actors. Participation asked from the audience is minimal, so that everyone can focus their attention on the show itself and not feel intimidated with the worry that they may be called upon to participate Each sketch is introduced with relevant research and followed by discussion about the issue and how it impacts those at your organization.
“I have to admit I was a bit skeptic about the possibility of raising awareness about gender equality and being funny at the same time. Not only the show was entertaining and truly funny, but it also provided me with some proper eye-opening moments. I have now realized that comedy is actually the BEST medium to discuss gender equality in the workplace as it helps introducing topics that might be difficult to discuss, and puts people in the right mindset to have more an open conversation about it. And you have a lot of fun in the process!” Marcello Majonchi – Microsoft
“I laughed non-stop from beginning to end, and I also learned a lot while laughing. The show helped me understand a lot of micro-aggressions that women face in the workplace that I didn’t even realize. Worth the time!” Luis Maseri – Microsoft
The Syndrome comedy show took inspiration from real events and presented it to our team in a way that was fun and informative. The information about gender equality issues was very memorable and I think back to the sketches often when situations come up at work. The show brought tough topics to the forefront in a positive way that enabled our team to talk openly about gender inequality issues and how to make things better.” Jill Bender – Microsoft
