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Are businesses doing enough to ensure gender equality?
While many women have advanced in legal jobs over the year, what can firms do to ensure all employees have equal access to opportunities?
The gender gap is shrinking in Australia.
Over the past few years, the issue of gender equality in the workplace has been one of the most widely discussed topics. As women are moving closer to making up half the workforce, many firms have become aware of promoting career prospects in a fair manner.
Topics such as the pay gap and female leadership are often complex, but how can firms seek to improve the prospects for all workers regardless of their gender?
Acknowledging the pay gap and advancement
The Workplace Gender Equality Agency (WGEA) recently revealed data surrounding the pay gap and female representation in leadership positions. The disparity between male and female pay now sits at 24 per cent, a drop from the previous year. However, the proportion of women in management roles increased from 35.9 per cent to 36.5 per cent.
The disparity between male and female pay now sits at 24 per cent.
WGEA Director Libby Lyons stated that the upward movement is encouraging, yet there is still room for individual firms to take action to further improve these numbers.
"I'm encouraged to see pay gaps inching lower, women's representation in leadership roles inching higher and leading employers start to dismantle the structural and cultural barriers to women and men's equal participation at all levels of the workplace," she said.
"While the national data gives us a snapshot of what's happening around Australia, it's up to each organisation to take action to build inclusive, diverse and successful businesses."
Failing to pursue equal pay can have detrimental effects on workplace wellbeing. Recent research from Columbia University found that women who are paid less for the same work as men in a company are 2.5 times more likely to develop depression. While the fact that women are twice as likely to develop depression than men in the first place is worrying, unequal further exacerbates the issue.
Women moving up the ladder in the legal industry
According to a recent survey by the Australian Financial Review, although the number of senior associates has dropped in total, female representation increased from 59 per cent to 61 per cent over the last year.
However, there are still a lack of females occupying partnership roles, dropping slightly compared to last year. Legal firms may want to consider highly capable females in legal jobs in their efforts to find a new partner.
Many women are advancing into senior positions in the legal industry.As Clayton Utz's Kate Jordan explained, the legal industry has been slowly shifting from historic and structural barriers, especially as many female graduates are entering the job market. However, there are still actions that firms must take to ensure that their structure doesn't unfairly favour men.
Empowering women in technology
One of the key industries that has constantly discussed and taken action regarding gender equality is the technology space.
A report from Accenture debunked the long-standing rumour that the lack of upward movement was due to lower levels of ambition. Out of the female technology specialists surveyed, the vast majority (85.3 per cent) stated they would like to advance in their role within the next three years. A further 62 per cent are aiming to join the C-suite or a similar senior management role within their career.
It is vital that a company hires the best talent regardless of gender and help everyone reach their potential in a role. This is where a professional firm like Ethos BeathChapman can help. We are an Australian-owned Executive Recruitment Consultancy specialising in the $120k - $400k candidate market.
By Dominic Khedun