News Round-up - April 2023

Introduction:

We thought we’d bring a focus to one of our key philosophies this month; that is to fix the culture NOT the women.

Also new for this month is to ask you a question; see them in bold. We would love to engage with you, rather than just inform, so please get in touch. 

We are always happy to promote your blogs, posts, articles etc., so send them in for May.

We hope you enjoy this month’s choice.

Subject: Level the playing field or fix the women?

Headline: Majority of women feel anxious or worried negotiating pay rises, study finds

Legal experts warn this ‘negotiation confidence gap’ could impact talent attraction and retention, and productivity, as well as lead to grievances.

Well said Kate Palmer, Peninsular “Supporting flexible working, introducing pay transparency, and basing pay decisions not on an individual’s confidence at the negotiating table, but on their skills, experience and qualifications, are all ways employers can take action to change the gender confidence gap.”

Question: Or maybe it’s about style not confidence. What do you think?

Link: Majority of women feel anxious or worried negotiating pay rises, study finds (peoplemanagement.co.uk)

Headline: Employers need to implement age-related female-specific workplace health and wellbeing support

Imagine the benefits of designing a health and well-being policy with women at the forefront?

Question: Is your organisation already doing this?

Link: Employers need to implement age-related female-specific workplace health and wellbeing support - HRreview

Headine: Are the exceptional men, or the exceptional women in your organisation, a greater flight risk?

Thanks, Sharon Peake, for bringing this article to our attention and helping to raise awareness of the unconscious biases in all workplaces and how to tackle some of these with practical solutions.

Question: What solutions can you share to shift unconscious biases?

Link: (45) Post | LinkedIn

Subject: Flexible Working – is it a good or bad , or does it just need more thought and flexibility?

Headline: A fifth of Brits are not fussed about meeting colleagues!

It seems to me it’s often a matter of priorities for employees. We might agree that face to face meetings are more stimulating than on line and may well produce better results, but there are just as many arguments for it not being the best way.

Question: We’d be really interested to hear your thoughts on this tricky subject… meetings

Link: A fifth of Brits are not fussed about meeting colleagues! - HRreview

Headline: Just 6 percent of the UK population are currently working remotely, new survey data reveals.

And a few more stats to bring context:

• One in 21 Brits (5.97%) spend their work days at home
• Twice as many Brits are fully office-based or hybrid.
• One in ten (10%) are in the office each day
• One in nine (11%) are working hybrid.

The article also explores the differences in different ages and a few socially related theories.

Question: What trends are you seeing in your organisation?

Link: Just 6% of Brits work remotely, new data shows - HRreview

Subject: Gender inequality

Headline: For first time, women represented in all parliaments of the world

Martin Chungong, IPU Secretary General, wrote “It will take another 80 years to reach gender parity in parliament. Currently, one of the foremost obstacles, is the climate of sexism, harassment, violence against women that we are witnessing across the world. It is a phenomenon that is pervasive across the world and it is not endemic to any particular region. And we can estimate that this is having a toll on the participation of women in political life.

And sadly Martin. not just in political life. Recent news reports about the CBI and Police Scotland suggest that it is far from equal.

Link: For first time, women represented in all parliaments of the world | World Economic Forum (weforum.org)

Headline: No 21st century organisation can claim to be the voice of business if it does not listen to the voice of women.

It was difficult to choose which CBI related article to include, so thanks Ruth Sunderland for my top pick and I’m all for not joining such an organisation!

Question: What are your thoughts?

Link: CBI should listen to women, says RUTH SUNDERLAND | This is Money

Subject: Attract and Retain

Headline: – The people who got to the top on a 4-day week.

It seems the trend at a senior level for a better work life balance is increasing. Interesting that Marc Nohr, Group Chief Exec for Miromar had also experienced that even the phrase "part-timer" is considered by some to mean "slacker".

It seems to me that it might be easier to negotiate flexible working when you are taking on a senior role than a more junior one. There are a lot less candidates for those roles and people are often head hunted, so have a lot more bargaining power.

Question: What are your experiences?

Link: The people who got to the top on a four-day week - BBC News