Drivers, Barriers, and Enablers of Gender Equality Certification Systems: Insights from a Case Study

The growing attention to gender issues has recently led to the introduction of new accounting tools aimed at measuring, reporting, and evaluating gender data to promote a conscious and proactive behavior toward gender equality in organizations. In Italy, the UNI/PdR 125:2022 practice defines guidelines for creating inclusive and gender-equal workplaces and obtaining the certification for gender equality. Based on a qualitative approach and case study method, this study explores the drivers, barriers, enablers, and benefits of gender equality certification systems according to the UNI/PdR 125:2022 practice. Given the recent introduction of this tool, research on this subject is still minimal. This study represents a pilot case and can lay the foundations for further qualitative or quantitative studies to investigate emerging drivers, barriers, and enablers in large samples of companies to confirm, extend, or refute the identified factors. Practical implications for enterprises and policymakers are discussed.