Feature: Sarah Rutherford PAGE 8| Business Executive | Issue 123


Dr Sarah Rutherford reflects on the increasing role of


in workplace cultures H


ardly a day goes by without some aspect of women in the workplace being in the news: the persistent gender pay gap, sexual harassment, the lack of women on company boards, women’s pensions. This attention comes because, in the West and


worldwide, a huge change in gender relations is reflected in increased legislation. This is trying to ensure women’s equality with men in the workplace. Women’s equality has been on the political agenda for decades but there is renewed political focus


on women at work because of an ageing population. Europe in particular needs its women to continue to work after having children. We will all need to work for more years. It is economics. Development of equal rights has also changed the way young women perceive themselves and their aspirations. Girls are now outperforming boys at school and make up the majority of graduates. So, are workplaces keeping up with these big social changes? Many are struggling even to apply the letter of the law, but some


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