Despite an increased emphasis on diversity and inclusion in recent years, there’s no denying that gender equity gaps still exist throughout the legal industry. Some of them are more obvious, in the form of things like salary differences. Some disparities, though, tend to fall under the radar.
A prime example is non-promotable tasks – things that people are regularly expected to handle at the office, but are technically unrelated to the actual job. These “office mom” tasks tend to revolve around office morale, like coordinating birthday cakes or baby showers, or they may be work-related but non-billable “scrivener” roles, like taking notes at big meetings. You can probably think of a lot more – and you can also probably think of who ends up handling them.
One thing these tasks all have in common is that they more often than not are handled by women. And though they may appear positive and important in an office environment, they can put the women doing them at a significant disadvantage in performance reviews and when it comes time to make decisions for promotion or partnership.
To help attorneys at all levels understand this issue and its impact on women in the workplace, PLI is offering a one-hour program, Non-Promotable Tasks and Gender Effects in Performance Reviews. The program will investigate recent research related to non-promotable tasks and gender’s role in performance reviews. Program participants will learn tips and tactics to address some of the most common issues faced by women in the legal profession – as well as strategies they can use to promote themselves and others in a positive way.
Eradicating the imbalances caused by non-promotable tasks is a critical factor in achieving gender equity in the legal profession. Sign up for the program to get practical advice that you can implement today.