A SCOTISH legal firm has announced a range of measures to celebrate International Women’s day (Mar 8).
Watermans will be rebranding to Waterwomans for the day and has encouraged its staff to take part in a sunrise dip at Edinburgh’s Portobello Beach as part of its celebrations commemorating the social, economic, cultural, and political achievements of women. It is part of a range of measures that it is introducing across it’s two sites in Edinburgh and Glasgow.
Some of the Watermans team are already members of the outdoor swimming community but for many of them, this will be the first plunge. Caroline Bennie, Head of People at “Waterwomans” said: “Taking those first steps into cold water is a challenge! It’s about taking a bold step because once you’ve silenced the voice in your head, you will feel the benefits. The culture we encourage at Watermans is so similar. We understand that experimenting with innovative ways of working, learning a new skill or progressing in your career can generate the same feelings – anxiety coupled with real excitement!”
She added: “Of course, the recognition of International Women’s Day should not be just about one day, but sustained and tangible measures put in place to make sure women are given an office environment where they’re valued and given opportunities every day of the year. Whilst we appreciate every member of our team, we understand the additional barriers that women can face at work. That’s why this year, we are redeveloping our child-friendly policies and introducing additional support for areas such as Menopause.”
International Women’s Day was launched on 19th March 1911 and has been gaining momentum ever since. This year’s theme is #EmbraceEquity, highlighting the difference between ‘equity’ and ‘equality’ – and why is it important to understand, acknowledge and value. The idea is to get people discussing why equal opportunities are no longer enough – and can in fact be exclusionary, rather than inclusive.
