Women in IT and Science

Recent research in the US reveals that women are ‘outnumbered and out-earned' in science.  Men are taking home an average of $1,117 to a woman's $853 per week while the mean suggested starting salary for women was lower.  The research also found that all women -whether they had children or not - were at a similar disadvantage.

• Schools and universities should organise career events which feature successful female role models
• Educate teachers as to possible job opportunities
• Encourage mentoring programmes between young female engineers and students

• Use gender neutral - or female friendly - vocabulary when advertising vacancies
• Use recruitment procedures that promote diversity
• Analyse the company's gender statistics and compare them with local and sector market
•  Set targets designed to improve gender balance
• Apply flexible working practices at all levels - including senior management positions

• Offer competence development programmes
• Finance care expenses (e.g. childcare) when training outside usual working hours
• Make career planning a responsibility of the organisation and the individual and apply equal opportunities principles in exercising this responsibility

• Collect and analyse relevant statistics
• Create processes to monitor relevant company policies
• Introduce mentoring programmes

• Promote a positive philosophy of maternity/paternity leave
• Produce guidelines  to ensure staff on leave (e.g. parental leave) are managed appropriately to ensure inclusion
• Set up resource and competence monitoring during leaves of absence to identify training and support requirements for returners