From The Sunday Times
May 3, 2009

City needs to end its damaging macho culture

Gwen Rhys, chief executive of Women in the City, a networking organisation

I am not at all surprised that women seem to be leaving the City faster than men. I would like to think this is because women are smarter and know there are better opportunities elsewhere, but I fear that it may be because women have been released in preference to men.

There is much that companies can do to encourage women to remain in the City. A good starting point would be to make a stand on sexist language. It is also important to chip away at the macho culture to provide a more balanced environment. I don’t mean improving the balance between work and play, but about developing a culture where men’s and women’s views are heard equally.

My advice to women who are trying to decide whether to take a redundancy package or to stick it out is not to take the money and run unless you have a real passion to do something entirely different. Otherwise, ride out the storm and remember that things will get better.