So what do you think? Looking for some feedback please from those who currently work, have worked or indeed want to work in #financialservices in the UK. I have been asked to attend the Treasury Select Committee that is investigating the barriers faced by women in our industry sector, the progress made to close the #genderpaygap and if we are doing enough to combat sexual harassment and #misogyny I contributed to the first of these inquiries in 2018 and remember thinking at the time that it was a huge responsibility to try and reflect the experiences of so many #women who have so many different individual journeys. So this time I wondered if some of you, including important male allies in financial services, would be kind enough to share your own observations and thoughts beforehand? Specifically whether you feel supported at work and if you think things have improved since 2018, what obstacles you face staying in or moving up through the industry and what deters you from joining or re-joining financial services if you have been thinking about it. Please do send me a direct message if you feel you want to say something on a confidential basis but I am just hoping to have as much of your input as possible to take with me into the committee… Many thanks, Amanda #womeninfinance #culture #diversity
Amanda Blanc “Women in finance Belgium” did a survey (backed by university) in the financial sector, on female career barriers. The results revealed quite some elements blocking females, potential reasons for senior female talent to leave the sector, and not surprisingly those same elements also hinder new talent attraction. I can highly recommend reading through the key insights: https://womeninfinancebelgium.be/media/pages/home/latest-news/ac9d46477d-1686909630/wif_june-2023.pdf Happy to put you in further touch with Nathalie Delaere for deeper insights. With warm Stratos greetings, Astrid
On a positive note I am no longer asked what my husband does. However that positive is built on decades of assumptions that there is a second salary in the household, which I am quite sure fed into the majority of compensation offers.
Thank you so much Amanda Blanc for taking on this daunting representation role. I've been in FS in London for decades and have so many stories about misogony. But I'm confident you'll get plenty of those from everyone else. My plea is on behalf of the women who have less of a voice here: Young women from working class backgrounds trying to access work in FS in the first place. Its always been tough for them to get a foothold, especially in London, for those who don't have family ties with the capital. Wouldn't it be great to see a government initiative that provided practical support for job seekers? (Perhaps those who are graduates with a 'pupil premium' background?) And while we're at it, lets talk about also offering safe, affordable housing for under-25s, somewhere commutable from the City?
Ironically the pandemic was a real step forward in terms of hybrid/remote working and lots of women found it easier to return to work and balance the home/work seesaw. Unfortunately, many financial firms didn’t grasp that this would be an easy way to balance up their workforce and now the push for return to office is making women rethink their decisions.
Hi Amanda, I would love to give my feedback as a woman with two children who is a law firm Partner in Financial Services. Sadly parents too often leave the workplace due to the challenges of parenting and working and I’ve co-founded a non profit organisation called Women Who Work (with an investment manager friend of mine) to try and support women in professional services return to work from maternity leave. My co-founder and I therefore speak to wonderful women (and men) who are going through this every day. I’d be delighted to have a conversation if you send me a direct message. Joy
Appreciate your work on this
Group CEO, Aviva Plc
1yThank you to everybody who has taken the time to share feedback about this issue. I have literally been inundated with direct messages from women and men sharing their own personal experiences and making recommendations about what would make the difference for them. I have read each and every one and tried to respond to as many as I possibly can. Thank you for being so candid about what are often incredibly difficult things to discuss - I really appreciate it. I will try and represent the current situation to the Committee the best way I can. Thanks again, A