How to Push for Policy Changes at Your Company | Women at Work | Podcast

SPEAKER_1 (0:01)

This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required compatibility and availability varies 18 plus.

SPEAKER_2 (0:26)

It's said everything happens for a reason, but maybe everything happens for a reason.

Take noise canceling headphones. Do they block hearing to heighten taste? Mm, that sound seems to show everything happens for a reason.

Amy Gallo (0:41)

So many of the systems in our workplaces exclude or disadvantage women. Think about unequal pay or a lack of support and flexibility for those who are caregivers.

We're not the problem. Systemic bias is, and it's leaders' responsibility to fix it at an organizational level.

Amy Bernstein (1:00)

But what if you heard about a novel program or policy that you believe your company should adopt? What if leaders are ignoring problems that have tried and true solutions if they'd only try them?

How can you instigate change yourself?

Amy Gallo (1:14)

Maybe you want childcare subsidies, or comprehensive health coverage, or paid parental leave.

Amy Bernstein (1:20)

Perhaps you want an ombuds office, or have HR do a pay equity audit and then straighten out whatever inequities it reveals.

Amy Gallo (1:28)

Or to democratize a leadership development program so that it's genuinely open to everyone.

Amy Bernstein (1:34)

That all sounds great, but how?

Amy Gallo (1:36)

Where does one begin?

Amy Bernstein (1:41)

You're listening to Women at Work from Harvard Business Review. I'm Amy Bernstein.

Amy Gallo (1:46)

And I'm Amy Gallo.

Overhauling, building, or dismantling any corporate system is an undertaking. And no one can do it alone. If you're embarking on systemic change, you'll need to pull in your work friends and make new ones as you all network across departments and hierarchies to gather information and support. There's a lot of thinking to do and groundwork to lay.

Buy-in probably won't come quickly or easily. Conflicts are likely to arise. The effort might even stall at some point or shift its focus. Success isn't guaranteed.

Amy Bernstein (2:26)

But imagine if you achieve the goal you set for yourself. That you had a hand in your organizations paying women better, treating them better, advancing them better. Those are achievements you'll never forget.

Feeling motivated yet?

Well, we've brought in two experienced change-makers to both inspire you and explain exactly how to get the work going. Lily Zheng is a strategist who advises leaders on how to create diversity, equity, and inclusion. They just released a new book called DEI Deconstructed. Lily's been on the show a couple of times before and we're delighted to have them back.

Amy Gallo (3:06)

Ashley Lewis has leadership roles within the Coalition of Labor Union Women and the United Auto Workers Women's Department. She mobilizes women to campaign for what they collectively need and then advises them on how to bargain strategically with leadership.

Lily, Ashley, thank you so much for coming on the show today.

Lily Zheng (3:30)

Yeah, thanks for having us.

Ashley Lewis (3:31)

Yes, thank you. It's truly an honor to be here.

Amy Gallo (3:34)

Lily, I want to start with you. Could you share an example of an organizational change that you've seen happen and were involved?

SPEAKER_1 (3:42)

This episode is brought to you by Google Chrome. You think you know a browser, but Gemini and Chrome, that's new. It can help you with practically anything on the web, like restoring a vintage motorcycle from a 50-page restoration block, or finally break down that long article you've had open for weeks. Gemini and Chrome is here for it. Ready to make anything online make sense? There's no place like Chrome. Check responses set up required compatibility and availability varies 18 plus.

SPEAKER_2 (4:07)

It's said everything happens for a reason, but maybe everything happens for a reasons. Take noise-canceling headphones. Do they block hearing to heighten taste?

That sound seems to show everything happens for a reasons.

Amy Gallo (4:22)

Then that took a lot of effort, but actually succeeded.

Lily Zheng (4:26)

Yeah. Well, there's a lot because this work happens quite frequently. I think one that comes to mind is an effort. I was a part of, just in a small capacity to completely change the onboarding experience of employees at a company. Basically, the company had recently learned that their new employees didn't really feel particularly supported, they didn't feel integrated, and they weren't really learning the culture and the values of the company until much, much later in their careers there, like a year or two in. And so they undertook this pretty extensive effort to completely change the onboarding experience for these folks, which on its surface looked pretty simple.