Making Dentistry More Gender Inclusive for International Women’s Day

       Is your dental practice a woman friendly workplace? Early March marks international Women’s Day, prompting many to reflect on the changing face of women in the workplace. Meanwhile the dental industry has seen an increasing number of women becoming dentists, with the American Dental  HYPERLINK "https://www.ada.org/en/science-research/health-policy-institute/dental-statistics/workforce"Association reporting that women make up nearly 35% of providers. Additionally, women account for the vast majority of dental assistants, hygienists, and reception staff in the US. With all this in mind, creating a workplace that considers the specific needs of women can improve a dental office’s overall effectiveness. So what can dental providers and office managers do to ensure their dental practice is gender inclusive?
       Consider Mothers: This expands to more than Maternity Leave. Make sure that your dental practice provides sufficient PPE for pregnant women performing radiographs. Provide clean, private areas for lactation needs. And you may even want to take a page out of the Google playbook and offer special Pregnancy Parking for expecting mothers. Appropriately Address Uncomfortable Topics: Women face higher levels of workplace harassment than men on average, so responsible bosses need to keep tabs on any inappropriate interpersonal problems in the office. Creating a harassment-free culture can often include help from outside experts, such as gender equality seminars to help facilitate the conversation around appropriate workplace behavior. Ask and Listen: Any employer, regardless of gender, should set aside time to ask employees what changes would help make their workplace a more inclusive space. For example, one dental office learned that stocking feminine hygiene products in the employee restroom lowers female employees’ stress about working during menstruation. Employers who listen to the needs of their staff and take simple, affordable action to meet their needs inevitably reap benefits from a more dedicated, loyal, and dependable workforce.
        We’ve previously discussed that finding and keeping reliable dental staff takes a lot of time and effort. That’s why dental offices need to do whatever they can to make their practice people-forward. Taking steps to create a more inclusive workplace could be a great start for any dentist.