Woman in IT work

I wish there were more women in IT, and I would love to work in a more balanced team (which is now 100% male). Not to have females around, but to reduce the testosterone-filled conversations and attitudes one sometimes encounters.

But having said that, I don't believe in giving anyone a salary advantage based on their gender. (I'm on my way to get another rejected answer here ;-)) According to me, one should show ones manager that one has added value to the team or to the company, to justify a financial compensation, be it a bonus or a raise.

That also means that I find it extremely unfair (and mideaval) to give women a lower pay for the same job. Unfortunately every study shows that this practice is almost "standard" in our civilised world...

Jim

I disagree that salary or bonuses should be based on Gender,it should be based on job performance,this is somewhat of a debate that this practice is now done,and most women are not given bonuses or promotions because of their gender and that salary is not equal.
You will find that this would be discrimination and more oft than not a male will cry wolf as to preferenial treatment if this was done.
Why not open this topic in the Discussion forum to gather more opinions from others.

I am a woman who works in IT. I would think it very unfair to give a woman a bonus just because she is a woman. Why would the bonus be offered in the first place? Is it because the woman is paid less than all of her male co-workers and management isfeeling a little guilty? Go ahead and give her the bonus if she's been doing a good job, but better yet, give her a raise to make her income more in line with what everyone else is earning! This is one time when unions are a good thing... Everyone gets paid the same for the same job title\function. The bad side to that is that the slob who sits on his duff all day in the break room gets as much as the hard workers! It's a vicious cycle. Just be fair with what you pay each employee regardless oftheir gender and reward those who help the company bottom line through bonuses, training re-imbursement, extra time off or flex time scheduling--you get the picture. Gender has nothing to do with it--it's all about the person and how that person compliments the team.

Let's look at this from a different perspective.

You don't state what the purpose of the bonus would be. On general principals you should never give a bonus unless there is a compelling reason to do so, and that compelling reason is properly aligned with your business goals. Thsi is regardless of gender.

If your goal is increase the percentage of women in the IT workforce within an organization, rewarding the people who do not make the hiring decision is not the best approach.

Instead,you need to set performance goals for the hiring manager. If this person already has financial incentives as part of their total compensation, then making these hiring goals part of the compensation package is a good approach. If not, make it clear that making significant pogess toward EEO hiring is a key part of this person's performance, and that they will be judged on this as part of their total job evaluation -- which will impact (favorably or unfavorably)their annual salary increase.

I can tell you that there are plenty of qualified female employees in the marketplace. In my field support operation, which stretches across four states, nearly half of my hires in the past two years have been female. In every case they were the best person for the job.

Humbly submitted,
Diabetic

Since you're looking for comments I can only say that it would be illegal and don't know of many people that would agree. I've worked at several places where I was the only man! Do I deserve a bonus? No way. It's probably not the case now, but women with the same qualifications and job performance should be paid the same as men.

Bonuses are and should be paid for performance. If it's a technical or similar job, then pay bonuses based on measurable predetermined goals. Sales and sales support is a no-brainer, revenue.

I'm black or I'm white or I'm gay - I deserve a bonus because I'm the only one. No way. I've met too many people that don't even deserve a job.

-Guru

I certainly think that women should not be discriminated against, and I don't think they should receive more just because they are the only one - I think all the above postings say this pretty much.

What I can say is that I have observed throughmy life and work in various disciplines (Physicist, Engineering, Security, Information Technology) - is that so often women do not choose these careers for themselves. During the whole of my experience I've found that there are very few women that persue the technical disciplines for some reason (but it's increasing thankfully) and that I've always hoped to see it more balanced (and it's becoming moreso). It all boils down to girls wanting to do this kind of work.. I think that when they do - it's usually there for them and that they can do well at this kind of work and all.

I do feel very uncomfortable with your request - that a woman should be paid more for being the only one - that isn't right legal or ethical in any way - any form of discrimination is wrong

I've worked in a shop some years ago where the men were eliminated - much discrimination against men - so it happens both ways.

I think maybe more careful thought should be considered.

Oh - to sympathize I am sure that most men probably have no idea what it might be like to be a woman working with all men. I'll have to ask one of my coworkers. She's the only woman on my team. Last time I asked her she said she liked it fine, and thought everybody was great to work with. It all depends on who you work with I guess.

This kind of thing could get silly -
like the only man working on an all woman team, or the only black working on an all white team, or the only white working on an all asian team, etc. etc.. - it could go on and on and on.

Women aren't the only ones discriminated against. Men can be, whites can be, so it can be the other way around too.
Isn't your request discrimanatory too????
so, what are you trying to accomplish, is it pure?

It's great to be in the IT field, but as a woman I would like to see the women in my workplace paid the same as the men. We are a small group, 2 male and 2 female, with one male being the supervisor, but both of the females are making less than the other male. Management reasoning: because the male was hired last and negotiated his salary for a job that had to be filled immediately! But a bonus for the two of us because we are female--No Way; how about equal pay?

This is in response to Chinachowchow who asked his(?) co-worker if she liked working with all men. That's very funny! I really doubt that a lone, single, solitary woman would tell one of the men she works with that it's like working with a bunch of pigs, babies, ignorant animals, etc. IF that IS the case. Surely chowchow was trying to be silly!

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