her former role.” Women in Technology have conducted several surveys of women working in the technology sector, and its most recent report, released in July 2011, concluded: “Unfortunately, it seems that the tech industry has failed to remove the glass ceiling. A long hours and macho culture still exists.” The report also asserted that many women surveyed felt that taking on part time or flexible working patterns would be detrimental to their careers. Part-time work is also
identified by the European Commission as a factor in the gender pay gap, and the organisation recognises that domestic care responsibility affects career progress for women. The EU has adopted a gender equality strategy, focusing on issues such as equal pay and gender equality in senior positions. “We will seek to significantly reduce the gender pay gap in the EU,” vowed EU Justice Commissioner Viviane Reding on the inaugural European Equal Pay Day, held on March 5th 2011.
Actions taken so far include the Women’s Boardroom Pledge, which asks companies to voluntarily increase women’s participation on corporate boards to 30% by 2015. There is an economic
advantage to narrowing the gap between men and women, according to the World Economic Forum. “Smaller gender gaps are directly correlated with increased economic competitiveness,” Saadia Zahidi, head of WEF’s Women Leaders and
Gender Parity Programme. “Gender equality is the key to unlocking potential and stimulating economies.” Many companies are
showing initiative in gender equality and are going out of their way to make themselves attractive to both female and male candidates. Click on the ‘Female-friendly companies’ panel below for a taster of what some companies have done to help improve gender equality.
SKIP
Female-friendly companies: BlackRock
Asset management firm BlackRock has a number of initiatives in place
Other recognised female- friendly companies
Companies such as Citi, E.ON, the European Investment Bank, M&G Investments and