Make gender equality as a part of organisational strategy: A multiple case analysis in the Italian context

Addressing gender inequalities in the workplace reflects larger social trends towards inclusivity and diversity. Human Resource Management (HRM) practices may contribute in several ways to create organisational environments in which everyone is treated equally and impartially regardless of gender. However, prior research has privileged the analysis of specific practices to support gender equality instead of adopting a more holistic approach, useful to unravel the different paths that companies might undertake depending on their cultural specificities and strategic intent. To address this gap, the present research, through a multiple case study in a sample of Italian companies, aims to provide insights on how gender equality is integrated in the business strategy by means of a coherent bundle of HR practices across the different phases of the employee lifecycle. The findings advance the current debate bridging the literature on gender equality and HRM, highlighting the importance of pursuing the alignment between gender equality HR practices and corporate strategy.