Gender Equality Policy
This Gender Equality, Diversity and Inclusion Policy, developed by the Management of Software Design S.r.l. in collaboration with the Steering Committee, defines the principles, objectives, and guidelines that express the Company’s commitment to gender equality, the enhancement of diversity, and support for women’s empowerment.
Software Design S.r.l. ensures that all stages of employees’ professional life cycle within the Company (recruitment and hiring, access to training, professional development and compensation growth, etc) are guided by the principles of equal opportunity and inclusion. Furthermore, it ensures appropriate reporting and monitoring systems aimed at identifying and removing any situations that are inconsistent with the principles and objectives established herein.
This Policy applies to all internal and external personnel who collaborate continuously with the Company.
To achieve and maintain gender equality, the Company, with the involvement of all employees and stakeholders, is committed to adopting practices, language and behaviors that pursue this objective and value diversity.
In particular, Software Design S.r.l. commits to:
- applying human resource management and development practices that promote an inclusive culture, ensuring equal opportunities throughout the various stages of professional life and encouraging the growth and development of individuals;
- adopting a governance model with appropriate organizational safeguards aimed at promoting gender equality in leadership roles and positions of greater responsibility within the Company;
- ensuring recruitment, management, training, and professional development processes based on the principles of inclusion and equal opportunity;
- fostering women’s growth and inclusion opportunities within the company by promoting training, professional development and autonomy;
- pursuing pay equity between genders through transparent criteria and processes;
- protecting parenthood and caregiving responsibilities by facilitating work-life balance;
- preventing and combating all forms of discrimination, harassment, violence, physical, verbal or digital abuse, and any behavior that undermines individual dignity, while promoting a safe, respectful, and inclusive work environment;
- communicating internally and externally its commitment to gender equality and diversity enhancement, as well as support for women’s empowerment, encouraging women’s full participation in Company life and combating gender-related stereotypes and cultural biases;
- ensuring the provision of a budget and sufficient organizational and professional resources, as well as appropriate responsibilities and authority, necessary for implementing this Policy and achieving and maintaining the established objectives;
- promoting information, training and awareness activities on gender equality, inclusion and the elimination of prejudice, bias and stereotypes for employees, management and individuals holding positions of responsibility.
Through its appointed Steering Committee, Software Design S.r.l. defines objectives within a Strategic Gender Equality Plan and identifies the actions, responsibilities, timelines, and monitoring methods necessary for the implementation of the Plan.
The Plan details the Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) required by UNI/PdR 125:2022, organized into the following six thematic areas:
- Culture and Strategy: improving the work environment by fostering and supporting inclusion, gender equality and diversity enhancement;
- Governance: implementing a governance model aimed at establishing appropriate organizational safeguards, encouraging the presence of the underrepresented gender in governing and supervisory bodies, and adopting processes to identify and remedy situations of non-inclusion;
- HR Processes: implementing human resource management processes covering the various stages of employees’ professional life cycle, based on the principles of inclusion and respect for diversity;
- Women’s Growth and Inclusion Opportunities within the Company: enhancing the ability to ensure fair and gender-neutral access to career development and internal professional growth opportunities;
- Gender Pay Equity: adopting processes and criteria aimed at ensuring pay equity and identifying and reducing any gender-related pay gaps;
- Protection of Parenthood and Work-Life Balance: adopting policies and measures to support employees in fulfilling their parental and caregiving responsibilities.
Software Design S.r.l. prepares and disseminates a communication plan addressed to stakeholders regarding its commitment to gender equality, diversity, and inclusion, ensuring that internal and external communications are consistent with the principles of this Policy and with the objectives defined in the Strategic Plan.
This Policy is communicated and disseminated both internally and externally to interested parties and is made available on the company website. Employees are required to comply, within the scope of their responsibilities, with the provisions of the Management System and the related Policies and to apply the principles contained in this Policy on a daily basis. The adequacy and effectiveness of this Policy are reviewed at least annually as part of the Company Management System review activities and, where necessary, following significant changes, relevant events, or based on the results of monitoring and verification activities.
The Steering Committee is entrusted with ensuring the effective adoption and ongoing implementation of this Policy. In addition, a person responsible for the gender equality management system is appointed, possessing adequate organizational skills and expertise in gender equality matters.
