Targets and policy to increase the proportion of the underrepresented gender in management

As of May 10, 2022, a new legislative amendment (Act No. 568) was introduced that requires Danish companies and financial institutions to take steps towards gender equality between men and women in their governing bodies. This change aims to create more equality and transparency in corporate governance structures.

These new gender diversity requirements apply to all major Danish companies and financial institutions. From April 1, 2013, the largest Danish companies have been obliged to set targets for gender diversity in the highest governance body and develop policies to increase diversity at other management levels.

An expanded focus on gender diversity (m/f)

With the latest legislative change from January 1, 2023, companies are now also required to set targets for gender diversity at other management levels. The rules only operate for two genders: men and women. This step is part of a broader effort to create more equal representation and raise awareness of gender diversity in all parts of the organization.

Although targets and policies are required, companies still have the flexibility to adapt these to their specific circumstances and needs. The central governing body must create a policy to increase gender diversity at other levels of management, but there is room for variation and adaptation to ensure policies are effective and relevant to each company.

Gender balance is understood as

  • A distribution of 40/60% women and men respectively or 
  • The number that comes closest to 40% without exceeding 40%

It is irrelevant whether women or men make up 40% or 60%. Therefore, the company is not obliged to set targets or policies when it has achieved gender balance.

Reporting ensures accountability and transparency on gender composition

To ensure transparency and accountability, companies must report on their targets and policies in their annual reports. This step is essential to ensure that companies are held accountable for meeting their commitments and to give stakeholders insight into the company's efforts to promote gender diversity.

The target figures should reflect a percentage for the underrepresented gender and a timeframe for achievement. This gives companies clear goals to work towards and allows for an objective assessment of progress over time.

The targets must be ambitious and realistic for each company.

It's not enough to set targets and policies - they must also be supported by concrete actions and initiatives. Companies have the opportunity to choose the procedures and methods they deem most appropriate to promote gender diversity in their organization.

3 steps to get started with gender equality

1. articulate your vision

Before you embark on various initiatives to increase gender diversity in the company's management, you should be clear about your vision.

Why is it important to you?
Is it about increasing gender diversity in specific disciplines or at specific management levels?
How do the initiatives relate to your strategy/vision/mission?

Make sure you formulate exactly why you are working to increase gender representation in management. This will ensure both consensus and support for the vision across the organization. 

2. Take stock

An important step towards greater gender diversity is to take stock and take the temperature of the working environment.

This can be done by, for example, counting how many of one gender is represented in different management levels and disciplines. This gives you a concrete overview of how far you are from your goal. While you're taking stock, you can supplement this with a survey among your employees to find out whether your employees experience the same opportunities for advancement in the company.

3. Create an action plan

Your action plan should clarify how you will achieve your vision and who is responsible for the different actions. It should also focus on follow-up and evaluation of the different actions. Find out how you will measure your progress e.g. through a dashboard.

4. avoid generalizations

Not all women (or men) are the same or have the same needs, desires or ambitions.

Generalizations based on gender can get in the way of creating valuable solutions for your employees. We need to be mindful of intersectionality and recognize diversity and different experiences of oppressive structures among women (and men). This means that there is no 'best practice ' that can be directly transferred to your company. We need to be curious about your employees and adapt solutions to their specific needs.

Why is legislation for gender diversity in leadership important?

Promotes gender equality (m/f)

Gender diversity targets for management and board diversity is one way to promote gender equality. It ensures that women are more fairly represented at management level, which is crucial for achieving a more equal distribution of power and influence in society.

Increases diversity and innovation

Gender diversity in leadership brings different perspectives, experiences and skills to the table, which can lead to more creative solutions and better decision-making. Studies show that companies with diverse leadership tend to be more innovative and competitive.

Creates transparency and accountability

The legislation creates transparency around companies' commitment to gender diversity in management and on the board. By requiring reporting on targets and policies, companies become more accountable and can be held to account for their actions in this area.

Fighting inequality

By setting targets and policies for gender diversity, legislation sends a clear signal that discrimination and inequality are not acceptable. This can help break down barriers and create more equal opportunities for women in business.

Does your company need advice on how to work with targets and policies for gender diversity in leadership? Contact us below for a no-obligation conversation:

Nikoline Nybo
Consultant

BA Anthropology and Chaos Pilot.


Experience in cultural analysis and anthropological methodology, project management and process design, organizational development and facilitation.

Louise Marie Genefke
Consultant

Cand. mag. Marketing & Communication, MA Management and External Lecturer AU.

Experience with management, talent and organizational development, facilitation and Employer Branding.

We have been very happy working with Louise Marie and Nikoline. They were very responsive to what we wanted to get out of the workshop and met all the expectations we had. They are incredibly professionally skilled while at the same time being able to convey the subject so that everyone can participate. They created a space where there was room for self-reflection and at the same time a lot of laughter. I can always recommend working with Louise Marie and Nikoline.

- Natashia Kamarainen, Project Manager, Amnesty International

Senior Center in Copenhagen | Modern Senior Living

It was a good variation of theory and concrete practice, good examples of possible courses of action. It was provocative and challenging. Many felt seen and touched. Employees especially liked your engagement and energy, which made it easy to maintain attention, and one department manager said they would like to spend a whole day with you.

We have previously met many consultant types (no prejudice here 😉 ) with a high level of education who come here to teach employees and talk down to them professionally. You lifted us up, thank you for that.

- Anna Mayland Bengtsson, Senior Consultant

The Joint Professional Committee | Training for the Bakery & Confectionery Industry

Throughout the process, Louise Marie and Nikoline were great at capturing the thoughts and ideas we came up with. Throughout the entire process, they were responsive to any adjustments - regardless of what strange ideas we came up with - and always managed to incorporate them into the project. Our experience of Louise Marie and Nikoline's professionalism - they know what they are talking about and are 100% in control of their professionalism and the project's goals. Nikoline and Louise Marie have a wonderful "down to earth" approach to communicating the results of the project - and a good didactic understanding of the target group to be presented and communicated to. The participants at the project presentation were enthusiastic about Nikoline and Louise Marie's professionalism and their clear answers.

- Erik Jensen, Education Consultant, Det Faglige Fællesudvalg (DFFU)

Logo | ATP.dk

I have to honestly say that Louise Marie and Nikoline exceeded my expectations. They entered the room and the conversation about privilege, microaggressions and unconscious bias (which can be difficult) with a straightforwardness and ease that had the whole room engaged. It was clear that they have a high level of professionalism because they were able to communicate difficult concepts in a very simple way - which you can only do when it is based on a deep understanding. The points were made present and the messages understandable. As a listener, you got the feeling that they were very present and that their personality shone through. It made you want to listen - and act - on their recommendations. Their approach, presence and humor were disarming even for the critics in the room.

- Victoria Nall Kruse Vanter, Senior Strategy & Sustainability Consultant

Bird & Bird | International Law Firm

The cooperation with Louise Marie and Nikoline has been very good. There has been a good dialogue prior to the process, where they were not only patient with us, but also good at guiding us in the right direction in relation to the many possibilities for cooperation. There was a great understanding of our project regarding a kick-off on our D&I project. Both Louise Marie and Nikoline sought to address staff questions on possible actions and solutions, with a message that words and iterations are also actions. It is clear that they are very competent and have a huge professionalism in their field. Louise Marie and Nikoline are strong communicators.

- Josefine Jarlmann, HR Specialist, Bird & Bird

Nikoline Nybo was incredibly professional and inclusive in her approach and managed to activate participants and create a space for reflection in moments that were otherwise characterised by one-way communication. Nikoline was caring and attentive in her way of dealing with both the audience and the speakers on stage and managed to create a pleasant atmosphere with room for laughter, reflection and curiosity. In a meaningful and balanced way, she brought herself and her knowledge into play, both on stage and in the run-up to. In the collaboration Nikoline was incredibly professional, listening and well prepared.

- Helena Maria Jappa Stolt, Communications Coordinator, DCI

Louise and Nikoline delivered a high quality, content packed three days learning experiences that kept us all enrapt and engaged. We all left with a deeper understanding of the topic of DE&I and how to bring it into our work, a better way to communicate between us and with the people we engage with. This was made possible by their knowledge of the topic, but also their facilitation style, their presence and earnestness.

- Student Team 27, Kaospilot

Louise Marie Genefke visited us in the Network of Owner Managers with a very competent presentation, which besides giving us knowledge about diversity and inclusion also challenged us on our own blind spots, preconceptions and biases. Louise Marie is able to get up close and personal, while remaining very respectful of the participants' worldview. This has led the group to a more nuanced understanding of the benefits of working with diversity and inclusion.

- Lene Ørnstrøm, Network Manager

The workshop we had with Nikoline and Louise Marie from Inclusify exceeded my expectations. I had high wishes for the workshop, and I was not let down. It was wonderful to witness the way they facilitate together, creating a room with honestly, trust and respect. I felt that I could ask any question without being judged. They complemented each other really well and the way they shared the speaking parts made me feel really engaged. It is also very helpful to have two so different women talk about the topic of DE&I as I felt that I got a broader understanding through their different personal experiences.

- Federico Bortoletto, Team Leader Kaospilot

The collaboration with Nikoline and Louise Marie worked very well and it was clear from the beginning that they have a great passion and expertise within their field. They are both extremely energetic about the Diversity & Inclusion agenda and they took the time to listen to our point of departure for working with this agenda. They are thorough in their work and come with great professionalism, experience and impact.  

I was amazed by their vast knowledge of the topic and still it did not make me feel scared or less in my knowledge, but rather it made me want to learn more about DE&I myself. The flexibility they brought to us was another wonderful aspect that I took away from their workshop. Taking our reflections into consideration at the end of the day, and making immediate adjustments made me feel seen and heard and improved the workshop even more. I left the three days with the urge to learn more, to do more and become an active part in making a change. It also directly influenced our group work as we created a role for a person responsible of DE&I in our project.

- Student Team 27, Kaospilot

The cooperation worked very well and a lot of trust was created from the start, where Louise Marie and Nikoline were very thorough in identifying our needs, interest in the company, the organization and the participants

Louise Marie & Nikoline led the process with great impact and authority, based on their strong professional skills and solid experience. They were at eye level and matched the different levels of leadership in the facilitation. At the same time, they are both efficient and very pleasant to work with.

- Dorthe Dinesen, HR Manager, Tivoli

The dialogue prior to the webinar was carried by valuable sparring on both content and framework, and in the presentation itself Louise Marie really shone through, even though she was not physically present in the room. Participants in the webinar found the presentation insightful and informative, and in the subsequent evaluation several also expressed a strong desire to hear more about the work in a longer format.

 

 

I have been extremely satisfied with the cooperation with Louise Marie and Nikoline. They have shown a professionalism and responsiveness that has made me feel in very safe hands from the very beginning. These are two people with very good communication skills and an ability to make people in the room feel comfortable. Wherever we have been in the process, I have not been worried about asking stupid questions, which is impressive given the subject of diversity and inclusion is so wide-ranging and can be challenging. We've taken significant steps forward in terms of getting smarter about our work on diversity and inclusion and what actions we'll prioritize thanks to working with Inclusify.

"Having recruited people for jobs for the last 20 years, I thought I knew 'most of it', but I've been surprised at how much Louise Marie and Nikoline's work and input meant to the process. It's clearly because of their strong professional skills."

 

 

 

 

 

 

You can sense right away that Louise Marie and Nikoline know a lot about their field and have a great passion, but at the same time they are very listening and open to what you need and what the purpose of the individual event/workshop is and adapt accordingly. It gives a good sparring to get your wishes concretized and see new perspectives on what you can and should do for an event / event.

 

Both Nikoline and Louise Marie are very outgoing and likeable, and best of all they made sure that it was a safe space to voice ones concerns and issues. They came to the workshop with such great energy, they were very structured and they ensured that the process went well and that the end-product was usable. They have our warmest recommendations.

We must engage in open and honest conversations even if it's uncomfortable, nuanced and concerns 'emotions' and 'individual experience'. We saw huge value in this and want to personally thank you for facilitating such difficult conversations.

Louise Marie and Nikoline are really good facilitators, who are both present and personal. There is no doubt that they both have enormous knowledge in their field and they managed to pass on a large part of it without either wrapping it up in theoretical jargon or talking down to the participants. They opened up new perspectives and left participants with an awareness of where and how gender matters in their working lives - and the desire to do something about it.

- Sara Ezban Grützmeier, Trade union consultant, HK