International Parity at Work Day Date in the current year: January 11, 2024

Discrimination in the workplace is a global issue. Although some countries have anti-discrimination laws, workplace inequality is still rampant even in developed countries. One of the main causes of employment discrimination is bias. Many employees tend to rely on unconscious or unintentional bias instead of evaluating job candidates solely based on their knowledge, skills and experience.

Although the struggle for workplace equality has lasted for decades, there is still much to be done. For instance, according to the World Economic Forum, economic parity between the sexes will take 170 years to achieve. One of the key goals of the International Parity at Work Day is to try to accelerate this process in spite of pessimistic estimates.

The inaugural International Parity of Work Day was observed on January 11, 2017. The flagship event was held at the Leedenhall Building in London, UK. It featured inspirational conversations and performances by a multicultural cast of performers. A series of events was hold by businesses and communities around the world, including Australia, Japan, Sri Lanka, and the United States.