Despite encouraging reports on diversity and equality in the workplace it seems as though there is still some way to go before men and women can be seen to be truly equal across the globe. In fact, according to the World Economic Forum’s Global Gender Gap Report 2015, it will be another 118 years before the economic gender gap has closed.
Disconcertingly, whilst countries such as the UK have equal pay legislation in place, globally the report says that in economic terms the gap has only closed by 3% in the last 10 years. Furthermore, the report indicates that we have seen “progress towards wage equality and labor force parity stalling markedly since 2009/2010.”
Before we congratulate ourselves too much on our own progress, the report shows the UK only standing 18th in the world rankings which see Nordic countries taking the top four places, followed by Ireland, Rwanda and the Philippines. Whilst undoubtedly continuing levels of inequality require action at a governmental or societal level, business leaders too can play their part in promoting equality and diversity not only across the organisation, but also in the interactions which their organisation has with customers, suppliers and other third parties.
After all, as Klaus Schwab, Founder and Executive Chairman of the World Economic Forum commenting on the report said: “Gender parity in our thinking and actions will be critical in helping to ensure that the future is served by humanity and not threatened by it.”
