At this year’s Women in the City Annual Celebration Lunch in November there was a noticeable number of men with one table winning an impromptu award for having the most men – thank you Gilly Lord our 2015 Professional Services Category Award Winner and a Partner and Head of Regulatory Affairs at PwC who brought 5 men to the Lunch.

Acceptable to ask women about family plans

Our Encouraging Equality Award Winner, Nick Thompson, Divisional Managing Director Technical Services, Sodexo UK&I spoke from the heart and said he hoped that when his 13 year old daughter is interviewed for a job in 10 years’ time, questions about whether and when she planned to have a family would not only be acceptable, but encouraged, because being able to speak openly about such things was important.

But some definite management no-nos

I recently read a blog written by a male VP of Engineering and Chief Technology Officer with an American company which struck a chord. A father of 3 daughters, he highlighted the biggest mistakes men make when managing women:

Not providing a safe environment

This does not have to specifically apply to women. A manager/leader needs to set the culture and the guidelines for what is acceptable and not. Screen savers of women in bikinis, for example, should not be tolerated.

Treating women like “One of the guys”

Whilst some women may play along with sexist antics or comments inside they are cringing.

Paying them less.

Treating them differently.

A good manager should assess each person as an individual and not bucket them into a group.

Our challenge for 2016

50:50 men: women at our Events. Do-able? If we all work hard at it; if, as women we encourage men to join us, contribute and be part of the conversation then we may. Let’s do it!

 

Gwen Rhys

CEO, Women in the City