Increasing gender equality on board level through stay-on-board regulations
Published date | 01 June 2023 |
DOI | http://doi.org/10.1177/1023263X231205830 |
Author | Brigitte Steinbauer |
Date | 01 June 2023 |
Increasing gender equality
on board level through
stay-on-board regulations
Brigitte Steinbauer*
Abstract
Diversity and gender equality in executive boards, as well as finding ways to balance private needs
and business requirements, are topics that are on the agenda of legislators around the globe. Given
the significant role of executive board members in shaping organizational strategy and culture and
for the company’s success, understanding the impact of rules that allow a mandate pause for this
group is essential. The German ‘stay-on-board’rules grant a mandate pause to board members for
maternity, parental or care leave or for a board member’s convalescence since August 2021. The
objective of this paper is to examine the necessity for a legal framework on the European Union
level that provides for a mandate pause for board members as a way to increase gender equality on
the board level. The author recommends closing the gap in gender equality on the board level at
European level by adopting comparable measures to those implemented in Germany, supplemen-
ted by additional measures. The implementation of a comprehensive set of measures, in conjunc-
tion with widespread acceptance in society, is crucial for the advancement of gender equality
within corporate boardrooms.
Keywords
Stay-on-board, mandate pause, executive board, diversity, gender equality
I. Introduction
Diversity and gender equality in executive boards, as well as finding ways to balance private needs
and business requirements, are topics that are on the agenda of legislators around the globe. Given
the significant role of executive board members in shaping organizational strategy and culture and
for the company’s success, understanding the impact of rules that allow a mandate pause for this
group is essential. The possibility to temporarily suspend an executive board member’s mandate
serves to enhance the attractiveness of board membership as a professional aspiration, regardless
Faculty of Economics, University of Gdansk, Sopot, Poland
Corresponding author:
Brigitte Steinbauer, Faculty of Economics, University of Gdansk, Armii Krajowej 110, Sopot, 81-824, Poland.
Email: brigitte.steinbauer@outlook.com
Legal Development
Maastricht Journal of European and
Comparative Law
2023, Vol. 30(3) 346–356
© The Author(s) 2023
Article reuse guidelines:
sagepub.com/journals-permissions
DOI: 10.1177/1023263X231205830
maastrichtjournal.sagepub.com
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