Care Equality Companies Network launches to address workplace gender gaps

The Care Equality Companies Network, developed by Özyeğin University, has entered its implementation phase with its first member companies. The initiative aims to address how care responsibilities and mental workload impact women’s career progression and economic potential.

Participating companies, including Boyner Group, Coca-Cola İçecek, Fiba Group, Garanti BBVA, and TAV Airports, will undergo a 12-month transformation process. This involves assessing current policies, collecting employee data through tools like the Care & Mental Load (CML) Kit, and creating customized institutional roadmaps to foster equality.

Research from Özyeğin University highlights the scale of the issue: women perform 57% of care work and 60% of the mental workload, compared to 33% and 35% for men, respectively. The study found that 37% of married women with children leave their jobs due to care responsibilities, and 15% have rejected promotion offers for similar reasons. Additionally, 85% of surveyed participants expressed a preference for employers that offer care equality policies.