The Ten Pillars
NWLSA is a free tool that helps women understand what thoughtful workplace policy looks like, and gives them the language to advocate for it. There is no score. No certification. No judgment. Just a clear picture of what good, better, and best looks like across ten areas of workplace policy that matter most to women.
How to read the pillars.
Each pillar is organized around three practice levels. Good represents accessible baseline practices that any organization can implement regardless of size or budget. Better reflects more intentional investment and emerging employer differentiation. Best describes what the most forward-thinking companies are doing right now.
The business case leads every pillar because that is the most effective entry point for change. When the numbers make sense, the conversation gets easier. When the conversation gets easier, policies get updated. When policies get updated, workplaces get better.
Print a pillar. Bring it to a meeting. Share it with your HR director or your manager. Use it however it helps. That is what it is here for.
The pillars.
- 01 Pay Transparency
Transparent, equitable compensation practices that surface problems early instead of letting them become retention crises.
- 02 Healthcare Access
Health benefits designed around what employees actually need, not what a standard plan happens to cover.
- 03 Life Event Policies
A defined, humane response to life's hardest moments, decided before the moment arrives.
- 04 Flexible Work
Work structured to fit the reality of people's lives, not just where the work happens.
- 05 Health and Wellness Benefits
Wellness benefits employees actually use, built around what the workforce demonstrates it needs.
- 06 Mental Health and Rest Culture
Mental health support that is easy to find, and a culture where rest is normalized rather than penalized.
- 07 Psychological Safety, Advocacy, and Accountability
Accountability systems where concerns are heard, processes are clear, and outcomes are consistent.
- 08 Career Advancement and Retention
Transparent, equitable career development that gives experienced people a reason to stay.
- 09 Workforce Reduction Equity
Fair, job-related selection criteria when the hard decisions come, reviewed before anyone receives a notice.
- 10 Representation and Leadership
Representation measured and acted on at every level, not just at the top.