Today is International Women’s Day, a global day dedicated to celebrating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women.

Worldwide groups come together to celebrate International Women’s Day every year. This year’s theme is ‘Choose To Challenge’ – because a challenged world is an alert world.

Individually, we’re all responsible for our own thoughts and actions – all day, every day. We can all #ChooseToChallenge and call out gender bias, inequality, celebrate women’s achievements, and collectively help to create an inclusive world.

What Lyreco are doing to support our women:

At Lyreco UK & Ireland, our female employee population makes up around 30% of our workforce. We aim to tackle gender imbalance going forward, and we currently have and continue to introduce policies in place to support our women at work. Below are just some of our policies we have in place to help support our women at work:

• Maternity, Paternity & Adoption policy
• Transgender policy
• Menopause policy
• Flexible working
• Career break
• Shared parental leave

Today Lyreco UK & Ireland will be celebrating IWD (International Women’s Day) internally with a series of inspirational podcasts, an inspired IWD Quiz and uplifting our women around the business with personalised Happy International Women’s Day e-cards our employees can send.

What does International Women’s Day
mean to our employees?

We have reached out to several inspirational women from around our business to what IWD means to them and a quote they hold close to their heart from an inspirational woman.

Keshana, People & Business Partner (Projects) – ‘We want to offer a workplace where women feel empowered to bring their whole self to work every day. This International Women’s Day, I encourage you to #ChooseToChallenge – challenge unacceptable behaviours in the workplace, just as Patricia Scott Schroeder did.

Sasha, Regional Sales Manager – Quote: “I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel”

Elizabeth, Credit Manager – Women’s International Day is a day to celebrate all the great women we have in the workplace especially within leadership roles and to shine a light on ensuring we are providing opportunities for women to progress.  “There is no limit to what we, as women, can accomplish” – Michelle Obama.

Sarann, Bid Manager – A quote that I think is very true for women in everyday life and business is “No one can make you feel inferior without your consent.” – Eleanor Roosevelt.

Donna, Area Sales Manager – The quote that resides most to me is Michelle Obama – “People who are truly strong, lift each other up. People who are truly powerful bring others together.” In business, International Woman’s day is the opportunity to celebrate how far we have come and what we have achieved as Women but also understanding there is more to do for equality in the workplace and how we can proactively change things. Outside of work as a mother of daughters teaching and empowering them is a huge focus for me personally to make a future difference.

A challenged world is an alert world and from challenge comes change. So, let’s all choose to challenge. How will you help forge a gender equal world? Celebrate women’s achievement. Raise awareness against bias. Take action for equality.

To find out more about International Women’s Day, click here.