The city of Santa Fe’s Women’s Commission provided the City Council on Wednesday with a report several years in the making, noting the results of a recent study highlighting “some critical areas where gender disparities exist” in city government.
The panel was formed in 2019 as a priority of Mayor Alan Webber but delayed in getting off the ground due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Members were appointed in late 2020, and data research company Embold Research was selected by the commission in 2022 to craft a survey for city employees with a focus on a “woman-specific lens,” noted members in their presentation.
“The research found that, while employees are overall satisfied with working for the city of Santa Fe, gender disparities exist across workplace accommodation, sense of safety and belonging, promotion and hiring practices, and general treatment of workers,” the report states.
The anonymous survey was circulated in late spring 2023 via email and was filled out by 314 city employees, according to Wednesday night’s presentation. Incentives were provided for respondents.
The commission’s goal is to provide a “gender-equity lens” on city policies and other government business and make recommendations on topics that affect women and girls, including employment, education, child care, sexual harassment and assault, public safety and domestic violence.
“Most importantly, we want to ensure the diverse voices of women and the community at large are being represented and heard,” said Gabriela Schwenker, vice chair of the commission. “With the current state of the city and its policies, we see the lack of resources available to women.”
Statistics from the survey presented include 46% of women who answered the survey have faced workplace mistreatment, including harassment and bullying — double the 23% reported by men. Women are also more likely to feel undervalued, with people who answered the survey writing in frustrations with promotional practices they attribute to gender disparities.
Seventy-seven percent of city employees who answered the survey reported being satisfied with their work, but women are less likely to rate the city positively when it comes to diversity, workplace culture, respect, work-life balance and opportunities for advancement, according to the presentation. Women also report lower levels of feeling safe emotionally compared to their male counterparts, the survey indicates.
The commission said it will further review the survey data, particularly narrative data, and work with departments to refine and finalize its recommendations to make sure those initiatives are “practical and aligned with the city’s goals” and hopes to present final recommendations in early 2025.
For now, the commission is proposing implementing a “robust” parental leave policy and a comprehensive harassment and reporting program across all departments, as well as establishing a mentorship program to pair less-experienced employees with more senior ones, the goal being to address disparities in advancement opportunities while fostering professional growth.
“I absolute endorse it 100%,” Webber said of the commission’s priorities.
“I think the way we get there is by following the road map that you laid out for us.”
