Ask for a pay rise!:

Chances are you’re reading this at work. Look around. How many men do you see? Five? Six? Twenty?

It doesn’t really matter how many there are. The key question, according to the President of Chief Executive Women (CEW), Christine Christian, is whether your male colleague is worth 17.5% more than you.

That’s right. On average, women have to work 64 more days than the ‘average’ man to get the same pay.

“Women are still waiting for equal pay for work of equal value,” says Sandra Cook, chairperson of economic Security4Women, a national women’s alliance. She says pay is a “big difference” in women’s and men’s lives.

Christine Christian says women should ask for a pay rise. She says that 17.5% less equates to $266.20 less each week and this pay gap affects the financial security of women in later life.

“We know from research [undertaken by Bain & Co] that even as women move up the corporate ladder, the pay gap widens.

“The research shows that the reasons are diverse and complex. One reason is that 80% of women tend to undersell their capabilities and experience. Other reasons include a clear lack of recognition or understanding inside an organisation that there is a problem and a lack of leadership in addressing the problem.”

Ms Christian said her organisation is talking to a number of progressive companies that want to address the imbalance.

“Only by highlighting the discrepancy and discussing at a senior level will efforts be made. It is imperative that these initiatives are led by the Board and the CEO.”

Ms Christian says women should seek a pay rise also.

“Women need to stand up and say ‘I deserve this! This is what I have done; this is what I can do. My contribution needs to receive equal recognition with my male colleagues,’” she said.