The Basics of the EDGE Standards
We have developed rigorous gender and intersectional equity standards to give organizations a way to authenticate their workplace diversity, fairness, and inclusion claims. The EDGE (gender-binary), EDGEplus, and EDGE Pay Equity and Transparency Standards offer a holistic framework against which organizations can measure where they stand in terms of gender and intersectional equity.
Our Global Standards
Edge
EDGE (gender-binary) looks at men and women as two homogeneous groups. It offers organizations the possibility to analyse data and information related to women and men.
Organizations that achieve EDGE (gender-binary) Certification are awarded an EDGE Certification Seal. This seal gives visible recognition that the organization chooses to hold itself to the highest standards in workplace gender equity at one of the EDGE Certification levels: Assess, Move, Advance, or Lead.
EDGEplus
EDGEplus (gender and intersectionality) is an add-on to the original EDGE Standard, now referenced as EDGE (gender-binary), and enables certifying organizations to deepen their understanding of gender-related matters by measuring and analysing the intersectionality of gender and other aspects of diversity.
EDGEplus offers organizations the possibility to analyse data and information related to women and men as diversified groups.
An organization is publicly demonstrating their commitment to analysing gender in intersection with other dimensions of diversity – this is why we have the + symbol in the EDGEplus Seal.
EDGEplus allows organizations to create a highly personalized evaluation specific to their priorities. The methodology has been designed to put organizations on an accelerated path to progress by focusing only on what is relevant and necessary to assess their current situation.
Given that the field of intersectionality and gender equity is complex and evolving, this methodology does not yet specify scoring thresholds.
EDGE Pay Equity and Transparency
The EDGE Pay Equity and Transparency Certification provides organizations with a structured, independently verified framework to assess and manage pay equity and transparency.
The certification assesses the results of an EDGE-compliant pay equity analysis alongside policies and practices related to pay equity governance, gender pay gap assessment, remediation and accountability mechanisms, and transparent communication of compensation structures and pay equity practices.
Organizations that achieve the certification are awarded an EDGE Pay Equity and Transparency Certification Seal, providing visible recognition of their commitment to equitable and transparent pay practices. Organizations seeking to analyse pay equity through an intersectional lens may also pursue the EDGEplus Pay Equity and Transparency Certification, which enables the analysis of gender in intersection with race/ethnicity.
Learn more about the EDGE Pay Equity and Transparency Certification.
Third-Party Certification System
To maintain impartiality, EDGE Certification operates as a third-party certification system. Certification Bodies are accredited, EDGE-approved third-party organizations that conduct audits and certification according to EDGE Standards. They verify that an organization meets the EDGE Standards and issue certification documents to confirm compliance.
FLOCERT is a leading global certification body, providing sole certification to Fairtrade and offering verification services for social and environmental standards as well as private codes of conduct.
Intertek is an industry leader with more than 44,000 employees in 1,000 locations in over 100 countries, delivering Total Quality Assurance expertise with industry-winning processes and customer-centric culture.
SGS is one of the world’s leading inspection, verification, testing, and certification companies. With 99,600 employees, SGS operates a global network of 2,600 offices and laboratories around the world.