How Women Have Evened The Playing Field In The Workplace

Somerville, NJ September 2nd, 2015 - Over nearly a century, women have made some pretty substantial strides in the workplace. For instance, at roughly 47%, women make up approximately half of the labor force, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. More women are serving as the primary breadwinners in the family, whether that’s by earning a larger salary, or by husbands raising the kids full-time while the wife works outside the home. Additionally, more than half of all management positions are held by women, based on Census data from 2012.

29% of newly hired CEOs last year were women
Even in the boardroom, among chief executive officers and chief operational officers, women represent a larger share of the corporate pie. For example, in 2014, of the nearly 340 new directors appointed in Fortune 500 boardrooms, 99 were women, or 29% of the total, according to data from senior-level executive recruitment firm Heidrick & Struggles. That’s up from 26% in 2013, 23% in 2012 and 18% back in 2009.

“Companies are increasingly focused on appointing more women directors - recognizing that better governance results when diverse points of view are reflected in the boardroom,” said Bonnie Gwin, Heidrick & Struggles vice chairman and managing partner.

On Capitol Hill, lawmakers are also seeing to it that women be granted the same privileges that men are, equaling the playing field even more. In June, for instance, Sens. Bob Casey of Pennsylvania, Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire and Congressman Jerrold Nadler of New York introduced the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act. Should the bill pass, which it’s expected to, employers would be required to provide women who go on maternity leave with “reasonable accommodations” to ensure their job is still there waiting for them if medical complications result in the aftermath of a pregnancy.

“No worker should live in fear that her job is at risk simply because she is pregnant,” Casey said after the bill was introduced, according to the American Civil Liberties Union. “This is common sense legislation that will finally provide pregnant workers the workplace protections they deserve.”

Men still earn more
That said, most political scientists agree that there’s still room for improvement. According to various estimates, for every $1 a man makes, women earn approximately 80 cents. A number of nonprofit organizations and think tanks, like the Heritage Foundation, note the reason for the salary gap results from societal factors, like women working in professions that may not pay as well, or working fewer hours than men in order to serve the dual role of childcare provider and working outside the home. During the typical work week, for instance, nearly 60% of women spend four or more hours with their kids every day, compared to 35% of men who spend this amount of time, based on a recent survey commissioned by CareerBuilder.

What’s more, allegations and accusations still persist in the workplace, where women claim gender discrimination. According to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, last year, more than 26,000 sex-based discrimination charges were filed against employers. However, close to 16,300 - 63% - were dismissed for lacking evidence.

Whether it’s sexual harassment, gender stereotyping or unequal treatment given to female caregivers, it’s important to take every compliance measure to ensure women are treating equally in the workplace, or a lawsuit can result.

For more information on how employment practices liability insurance may protect you in such an event, visit our site. Or contact Donna Bateman at 908-281-2073.

Photo and article courtesy of Selective Insurance Group, Inc.