Canadian women are paid 20% less than men. What can you do to get your extra 20 cents?
Could poor negotiation skills explain why Canadian women earn 81 cents for every dollar men are paid?
The daunting nature of negotiating a salary with employers when being paid unfairly has resulted in a ‘negotiation divide’ for many female employees, resulting in continued work with unfair pay.
“Women need to take a headstrong and professional approach when negotiating their salary,” Gillian Franklin, managing director of The Heat Group, said. “Rather than underestimating their significance, they must be prepared to talk about the unique qualities they bring to a company. They should also do their homework and benchmark themselves in the industry.”
Franklin suggests that women must consider critically what they can offer employers, and utilize this when requesting salary increases. She also urges women not to compromise flexibility for greater pay, and instead focus on their outputs for the organization.
HR professionals must understand this situation if they wish to better the position of women in the workforce. “Until we can address this, women will continue to suffer from the negotiation divide,” Franklin stated.
Read: Pitch for the pay rise you deserve
Key HR takeaways
Unsure how to negotiate a pay rise? Hays previously gave HRM their tips to a successful negotiation:
