86% of professionals would challenge gender inequality in the workplace

The difference in opportunities between women and men in terms of career development, promotion and remuneration, based solely on their skills, remains a current challenge on a local and global scale. According to the Hays survey, employees are ready to respond to the manifestations of gender inequality in the workplace and thus contribute to the implementation of positive changes at the organizational level.

A survey of Hays recruitment experts, which involved approximately 900 people globally, shows that 86% of respondents would challenge gender inequality in the workplace if they witnessed it.

HOW WOULD THEY ACT?

Overall, 86% of respondents said they would take action if they identified or witnessed gender inequality in the workplace.

• Of those surveyed, 37% said they would approach the management or members of the human resources department to inform them about this;

• 34% of respondents said they would challenge it directly;

• 15% stated that they would approach the management or members of the human resources department and make them aware, as long as they could remain anonymous. However, 14% of those surveyed said they would not act if they complained of gender inequality for various reasons: 6% said they would do nothing because they felt the issue would not be addressed, 5% said they would not they consider it their responsibility to discuss it and 3% said they would do nothing because they do not think they would remain anonymous. Making a parallel of the answers based on gender, it is observed that women are more likely to approach the management or members of the human resources department on this subject, 41% stating this, compared to only 38% of men. On the other hand, 37% of men said they would address this directly, compared to only 31% of women. However, men were more likely to say they would not challenge gender inequality, with 6% saying they would choose not to do so because it is not their responsibility, compared to only 2% of women.

Sandra Henke, Hays Group Head of People and Culture, commented on the results: “It is nice to see that the vast majority of respondents would challenge gender inequality in the workplace, everyone has an important role to play in the challenge of inequality. However, it is worrying that just over one in ten people would choose not to contest it.”

“The issue of inequality should be effectively eliminated: Many organizations are probably already taking important steps in this direction, but the approach needs to be consistent to ensure that the message is received and understood“, Sandra added.

The survey has been conducted on social.hays.com between January 21, 2021 – March 1, 2021.