The hospitality industry is one of the world's largest sectors, where women make up a significant proportion of the workforce. From housekeeping and front-desk roles to sous chef and chef positions, women are deeply embedded in the day-to-day operations of hospitality businesses worldwide. However, achieving true gender equality in the industry remains a work in progress.
Get inspired by Asma Khan on how we can create more opportunities for women to succeed and reach equality for a fairer future for the industry.
How to Champion Female Talent in Your Kitchen
1. Create a safe space
The first step to creating a more equal kitchen is creating an environment where women feel safe to interact with their superiors, whether it’s for mentoring purposes or to give feedback.
‘You need to encourage them that this is a different environment, [That] you can be respectful, but you can be powerful’, says Asma Khan, Chef and owner at Darjeeling Express. A safe workplace also means creating suitable changing rooms and dedicated spaces where women can feel comfortable. It’s simple changes that can make a big impact.
2. Understand their cultural background
Each member of your team comes from a different background, and you should always try to learn and understand it. Being respectful of cultural needs and nuances will make women in the crew feel welcome to express and be themselves at work.
3. Pay fairly
The gender pay gap remains a significant issue in hospitality. Thriving in the workplace also means being paid fairly, based on their skills and roles: “You absolutely need to pay fairly and equally. People who do the same job should be paid the same, irrespective of their gender. This is very important in every industry” highlights Asma Khan.
Being transparent about pay practices is fundamental to spark real change in the industry. Furthermore, more women should be in senior leadership positions, both to make managerial boards more equal and to inspire young women entering the profession.
4. Create growth opportunities
In the spirit of having more women covering key roles, it’s essential to provide tailored training programs and mentorships. Women should have the same clear progression paths and opportunities as their male counterparts.
Encourage women to find mentors and build connections to enhance their skills, inside and outside of the kitchen. The whole business will benefit from skilful and empowered women who can bring their contribution to the table.
Are you a female chef ready to get to the next level in your career? Enroll in our free Leadership Training Course.
5. Promote inclusivity
A key step towards gender equality is to educate all employees about gender discrimination and build emotional intelligence. The team needs to be supportive, not abusive and any type of inappropriate behaviour shouldn’t be tolerated.
Women should also feel safe to speak up to their peers and seniors about misbehaviour in the kitchen and measures should be taken to ignite positive change.
6. Open communications
Keep communication channels open, so that employees can feel safe to ask for help, provide feedback or open up about personal problems.
Chef Asma Khan has been promoting active listening in her kitchen: ‘Recognising, ‘Yes, I know this is uncomfortable for you, let's find a solution’. That really will help young women who come in, because they feel this is where they will be safe, that they can grow, that they can thrive, that they can become powerful.’
It’s Time for Change
The world is evolving, and women in hospitality are demanding equality and inclusion. We can all contribute to this change with our voices and actions. Women are a vital part of the food service industry and gender equality is not impossible to reach.
Start now by creating a more inclusive environment and explore our resources to build fairer kitchens of tomorrow today.
You might also be interested in: Creating Policies for a Fair Kitchen.
