Help with wording, please!

[McDuffy]

Morning vipers
I'm editing some guidance documents at work that will be read reasonably widely and they refer to a "gender-balance", as in "gender-balanced workforce". "Sex-balance" doesn't seem quite right, but that's probably because I've been persuaded down the replacement word route as an easily-embarrassed Englishwoman! Any workarounds?

[OhHolyJesus]

"Balanced by biological sex"
"Sex-based balance"
"A workforce balanced in Male/female representation"

Anything other than 'gender' will sound more wordy but I agree that to be absolutely clear it's a word best avoided.

[sashh]

A workforce that exceeds the minimum requirements set out by the sex discrimination and equality acts.

[Jellyeggs]

A male/female balance is fairly tidy.

[senua]

Sashh beat me to it. The Equality Act uses the words 'sex' and 'sex discrimination'.
I understand your worries about using the word 'sex' but 'sex discrimination' is well-known, accepted and more hard-hitting phrase.

[senua]

You could go one further.
Does the document start with definitions? Drop a paragraph in there about (all 9) protected characteristics, including sex.

[CharlieParley]

A workforce where men and women are equally represented.

Employ equal numbers of men and women

Staff drawn from both sexes equally

Recruitment that results in employing a balanced number of women and men.

[McDuffy]

I'll try those on for size!
I feel like I'm allergic to the word "gender" and hiss whenever it's used in the wrong way...
thank you!

[jay55]

Balanced male to female ratio.