Why we should talk about money

same role and sorted it out. But some organisations have not – keeping the silence is cheaper.

It’s time for pay transparency legislation where organisations are required to publish their pay data. It’s already started to happen here because our Aussie neighbours have been transparent about pay for some time, which means some New Zealand companies with Australian connections are already reporting.

But let’s not wait for someone else to fix this, we can all take action now. We want our colleagues, friends, daughters, and neighbours to get paid fairly, so let’s ask our employers: are women paid the same as men here?

It is just one quick question that will need an answer. If your employer knows their pay data, they will have to share it. Ask for the breakdown by ethnicity as well. If they don’t know, they will have to calculate it. Either way, it will break the silence around pay. But no-one likes talking about money so it is likely to an uncomfortable conversation. So ask in a group or ask a representative or manager to ask.

And let’s get talking about money among ourselves and to our kids.

Let’s share the facts with our sons and daughters without gender stereotypes that serve no one well. The #makemoneyequal campaign lead by a British bank found 70 per cent of articles about money aimed at men linked making money to being a ‘‘real man’’ and the key to personal status. Seventy per cent of articles about money in women’s magazines characterised women as excessive spenders and encouraged them to seek out discount coupons.

Let’s get rid of the taboos about talking about money, cut through the silence, pay everyone fairly and live happily ever after.