Gender equality through the digital route
TECH TONIC Women are taking advantage of open online courses to improve digital fluency and using technology to skill up for work flexibility
The pay gap between male and female employees across sectors is usually the focal point of any discussion on gender equality. However, though there’s still a long way to go for women across sectors to break the glass ceiling and get equal pay, technology and digital tools can certainly come up with a quick-fix cure, say experts.
A major reason for the pay gap in India is that a lot of women leave work midway, due to personal reasons. Empowering women digitally and allowing them to work from any location can help them achieve worklife balance, says research by professional services company PeopleStrong.“Women employees are expecting their workplaces to provide more diversity-related benefits and digital platforms. This will close the gender pay gap gradually,” says Shelly Singh, cofounder and chief business officer of the HR solutions firm.
Use of tools such as social media for connecting with prospective employers and creating business links is one way women can build a strong professional portfolio. Joining professional networks for online certifications and getting freelance wor k also helps improve their skills and chances of negotiating a better pay package, say experts.
“It can be something as simple as using the internet to learn how to write a good CV or participating in online forums about negotiating salaries in a job interview. Women can also go for certifications in specific areas based on their professional requirements. Massive Online SHELLY SINGH, co-founder and chief business officer, PeopleStrong
Joining professional networks for online certifications and Open Courses are a good way to boost one’s digital fluency. All that women have to do is prove that they are as competent as their male colleagues when it comes to using technology and being digitally savvy at the workplace,” says an expert from a global consultancy.
Familiarisation with the latest software and other tech platforms used in the industry can boost one’s prospects. Courses on leadership development and interacting digitally with peers help too, especially at a time when more women are going in for data analytics, STEM and various computer disciplines.
The Global Wage Report 2016/17 titled Wage Inequality in the Workplace
Massive Online and Open Courses help boost one’s digital fluency, say experts by the International Labour Organisation says India is among the last five countries with a gender pay gap of over 30%.
Experts at Korn Ferry Hay Group say that as a demographic group, women get paid less than men. They are still not getting to the highest-paying jobs, functions and industries, while men thrive in all three. Sometimes, women get ‘stuck’ at a particular level. “The higher up in organisations you look, the more men dominate and the more the pay gap widens,” says an expert from the firm. Creating a women-friendly workplace is about being sensitive towards the needs of the diverse workforce, says Nagina Singh, CHRO, Bharti AXA Life Insurance.
Women employees are expecting their workplaces to provide more diversity-related benefits and digital platforms. This will close the gender pay gap gradually