Although studies consistently find organizations with diverse workforces tend to fare better than those with more homogeneous employee profiles, senior staff members remain overwhelmingly male, both globally and in Canada.
These are the findings of a Hays report released March 8, which is officially International Women’s Day.
“Although gender diversity has improved and we have seen less of a disparity in the views and experiences between men and women when compared to our 2015 report, our research shows that organizations can still do significantly more to narrow the gap,” said Yvonne Smyth, Hays’ global head of diversity.
“They hold the key to advancing women in the workplace and have an opportunity and responsibility to close the gender divide.”
The study found that 82% of Canadian workers say the most senior person within their organization is male. This compares unfavourably to the global average of 79%.
Fewer than half of all women surveyed—49%—in Canada say they feel they are paid and rewarded in an equal manner compared with equally capable male colleagues. On the other hand, 77% of men say rewards are equal irrespective of gender.
An Oxfam report released the same day said the inequality gap around the world will never be eliminated without dealing with the social norms and power relations that exist to keep women from achieving equal status. This needs to be done, the report argues, by changing laws and actively promoting women’s rights.
“Where there is effective regulation and wage-setting, women are better off and the wage gap decreases,” the report said.
“For example, in Canada’s well-regulated public sector, university-educated women see their wage gap shrink from 27% to 18%.”
In conjunction with the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives, Oxfam said it is calling on governments to work to build a fair economic and political system that “levels the playing field” for men and women.
Specific actions this would include, the Oxfam report said, are ensuring tax and social safety net policies recognize unequal gender roles and making a concerted effort to change them, protecting women by ensuring action that promotes fairness and promoting women’s rights and leadership “to tackle the root causes of women’s economic inequality.”
@EmmaHampelBIV
