Wage-Gender gap

[jump79]

Is anyone surprised that the gender wage gap is still an issue in 2006? The discrimination in the workplace means not only are some women pushed into the lowest-paid jobs, but those who are qualified and make it into better paid industries, are still held back in favor of men. Will women ever earn an equal pay as men, or are there just too many chauvanistic employers in the country who prefer keeping the prestigious 'old boys' club to themselves?

[searchme]

Jump79-why are you bothering your pretty little head about such things?

Let your man support you and just make sure you've got his tea on the table when he comes home from work.

What's wrong with that?

[Gef]

Teachers (in equivalent posts) earn the same whatever their gender.

[bill barlow]

Just wait untill the Muslims take over...........then you'll see what a gender gap is and not just in wages.

[Grunty]

Whilst I have the greatest respect for women (genuinely), I have a lot of sympathy for small employers. They are expected to invest heavily in training, knowing that many of the people they train will leave to have babies. They will then demand that their jobs are kept open for them. When they return to work they will demand child care facilities and will expect the rest of the workforce to do all the inconvenient shifts.

[El D]

A lot of the gender pay gap can be attributed to the abuse of statistics rather than genuine discrimination.

[jump79]

search me- it's the caveman attitude like yours that have impeded women from getting anywhere in the workplace.


And, what makes you so sure the men will always work? what if he ends up unemployed?

[jump79]

bill barlow, for the last time, the muslims are not going to take over the world. I don't know why you have to bring them up in this topic about Women?

Grunty, I see your point of view, but not all women live for the sole purpose of having babies. Its only a matter of time before all businesses, big or small, will offer childcare facilities because women are now part of the workforce everywhere. So better to face the costs now than later.

What really annoyed me was the fact that women have to be more qualified than men (in degrees,experience etc) just to be considered for the same job position. This doesn't even include the pay differential and I have no idea what that would involve...

[bill barlow]

jump79.............if you have no idea why I bring up Muslims in a topic about women you have no idea about life on this planet. Are you you human or an ostrich that can type?

[jump79]

bill barlow, no need for remarks like that.

As of now, the world is still sane and no one is taking over anyone's country. So what is your opinion about the wage gender gap, At Present ??

[bill barlow]

jump79................there are needs for remarks like that.Thats what we are here for.

My opinion on the wage gap at present is that market forces should prevail, which they do.

I employ females and I know that 75% of them will leave to have babies and under the present law I have to keep there jobs open for 9 months. Then I know 75% of them will not return. Economics. Take your head out of the sand and get real!!! Its not being sexist............women have babies and men do not!! Simple as that.

[jump79]

I am not surprised women who work for you, never come back. And my head is not in the sand, I think I am way more open-minded than you, regarding certain issues!

And not All women have babies by the way, women are becoming increasingly career-minded and putting jobs first and children/family second, I would have thought you as an employer would know that. Why do you think we have an ageing population problem??

[jump79]

If the wage gap existed solely because women in certain professions lack experience, or do have children and then work part-time, i have no problem with that.

But when women are paid less from the very beginning, when they first enter the workforce (having equal experience and education as the men ), what kind of signal does that send out to them, do you think? This stereotypical view, that women will leave the workplace to raise children is then fulfilling, since with their lower wages, they are the weaker partner (in a marriage) and forced to stay at home while the husband continues to work.

Its not all pure economics, gender bias has long been an issue and no doubt affects the market.

[bill barlow]

jump79.............I have given you true facts......you are just waffling.

Maternity leave for women was bought in under pressure from people like yourself to make life "fairer" for women. Like so many laws of this type it has had the opposite effect. Any small employer of a female between the age of 16 to 25 years old KNOWS there is a 75% chance she will leave to have a baby. He then has to keep her job open and pay her for 9 months, and she will then probably not return .Not much of an incentive is it???

Do away with Maternity leave and the wage gap will dissapear overnight. Economics. Understand???

[sp1814]

Jump79 - there's something that the statistics do hide, and that there are a significantly higher number of women in part time work (those who have children at school age) and because of their lower wages, the figures are skewed.

Still - that's absolutely no excuse for paying a woman less to do a man's job.

Bill - you could also train up a man who then leaves with all his newfound skills for a better paid job. You're not really paying for future loyalty, you're paying for what they're doing at present.

Bill - you say that if we did away with maternity pay, the wage gap would disappear...what, like there wasn't a wage gap before this law was introduced?

[sp1814]

Bill

Blimey mate - I've just seen your post about Muslims!

Where did that one blow in from??? You're a very angry man, aren't you?

[sp1814]

Duh - sorry Jump...you made the same point as me (about part time female staff).

[Bohne]

I know it is still a problem with some companies, however, I also know that I earn more than my male collegue, who does basically the same job, since he was imployed as a junior five years ago, and I was employed four years ago with already five years of work experience.

So it's not the same everywhere.

[sp1814]

Bill

Leaving aside the whole Muslim conspiracy...please tell us how the wage gap would disappear if the 2002 Employment Act was rescinded.

I'm honestly curious...you are an employer so it would be interesting to hear your point of view on this.

[jump79]

bill barlow, the so-called facts you've given me are based on your single business.
Okay, for 16-25 yr old women there's a chance they may leave work to have children, but what about the 40 plus women who have no prospects of concieving in future?? Why are they still being paid less than men, even though there runs no risk of them leaving work to raise a family?

You say there's a 75 per cent chance women won't return to work... does that go for all women in the country or just in your business? Because if women have invested heavily in their education and training, I highly doubt that they'll just give it all up after having children and retire to a domestic life.

[jump79]

sp1814, I agree that the statistics do hide and distort a lot of the figures, as El D also pointed out.
You make some good points about the men who are also a serious liability as there's no guarantee that they will not leave their job for a better one. Both men and women (as employees) carry risks, its ont all one-sided.

Bohne-good on you! Yes, I know some companies are fair and the gender discrimination is not present in all workplaces ... but as you said, more often than not, gender bias exists in most places.