In many countries, EMBs adopt strategies to create a gender-sensitive culture among electoral staff and ensure a respectful workplace environment, free from violence and discrimination, with equal opportunities for men and women. EMBs often require considerable efforts from their staff, especially during the electoral period, where overtime hours and charged work schedules are frequent. Gender-sensitive EMBs can put in place policies that consider the impact of this on their staff, especially on women with families, and promote the reconciliation of their personal and professional lives. Measures to foster work-life balance can include recruiting extra staff or making shift-work arrangements instead of overtime, creating on-site childcare facilities or providing staff with childcare vouchers, breastfeeding arrangements, as well as special leaves for men and women responding to personal emergencies. Another way to promote a gender-sensitive workplace is fighting against discrimination and harassment within the organization, through laws and regulations and through professional development training courses. In the EMB survey, 23 percent of the 35 analyzed EMBs reported that they had a policy against sexual harassment.[1]

Example: In Costa Rica, the institutional gender policy recommends harmonizing family and work responsibilities of electoral staff, considering situations involving domestic violence, single parents, and care of elderly, sick, disabled and juvenile age group.[2]

Example: In Georgia, the gender policy foresees the provision of a flexible working day for mothers of young children. Election administration employees are granted benefits during their pregnancy, childbirth, newborn adoption and childcare. The CEC maintains a staff database, with information on the number of mothers with small children under the age of 11. This helps prioritize needs and adapt the support for families with small children.[3]

Example: In Romania, the EMB has flexible working arrangements for mothers with small children, including extra time for breastfeeding.[4]

Example: In Timor-Leste, training for electoral staff during the 2009 local elections and 2012 national elections addressed specific measures for pregnant women, and women with children, as well as family-friendly arrangements.[5]