Gender Pay Gap Essay: Identification Of The Issues Faced By New Zealand
Question
Task: New Zealand is facing an obesity epidemic with an increase in obesity rates in recent years. Prepare a gender pay gap essay identifying the causes of this problem and suggest and evaluate some solutions.
Answer
The present gender pay gap essay is focused on analyzing the issue of gender pay gap that has become a common concern in almost all the economies and it is a key indicator of a problem called gender inequality. In New Zealand, gender pay gap is a main parameter that is used to measure the gender inequality. It indicates the differences between the pay-scale of male and female employees in a country. In 2019, Statistics New Zealand the pay gap has been reported at 9.3 percent (based on median hourly workings) which was 16.3 percent in 1998 Stats NZ, 2019). It can be observed in the statics that there is a significant decline in the rate of gender pay gap but since last one decade the reduction in the same has been stalled. Although, the problem of gender pay gap is quite low as compared to other countries, it still persists therein.
The causes of gender pay gap in New Zealand are complex to understand and hence only 20% of the causes are specific in nature and 80% of such factors are unexplained in various researches undertaken in this particular area (Ministry For Women, 2019). The factors are called unexplained by researchers because they are difficult to be measured such as conscious and the unconscious biasness which directly or indirectly impacts the recruitment of women at the workplaces and their pay advancements.
One of the major problems discussed in the context of gender pay gap essay that lead to gender pay gap in New Zealand is the occupation as well the vertical segregation. Occupational segregation is caused on account of clustering male and female workers in particular work places (Quast, 2012). For instance, in New Zealand females are over represented in nursing and healthcare sector whereas in the occupations related to construction, engineering and technical activities males are over-represented as the workers. 47% of women workers in New-Zealand are occupied working at the places that more than 80 percent female (National Library of New Zealand, 2019). These women dominated workplaces are generally low paid and the women out there are generally under-rated at higher positions. In terms of vertical segregation which means that higher proportion of males are held at top-paid or senior positions. In 2016, 50% of the CEOs who were highest paid were all male in the country and female workers are positioned at bottom or middle levels (National Library of New Zealand, 2019). The issues like these stems out of discrimination in the influence of social culture.
The solution to problem of occupational segregation could be the implementation of such practices that reduces the conflicts between the profession and personal life of an individual. Such practices could be offering flexible working schedules, providing access to daycare facilities, promoting results only work culture, implementing safety controls. Another ways to deal with the problem of occupational segregation could be structuring the jobs roles and behaviors in such a way that they become gender neutral. Hiring at workplaces must be gender neutral.
Another problem identified in the context of this gender pay gap essay is there in the New-Zealand economy contributing to the issue of gender pay gap is unpaid work. Female employees in New Zealand are doing more unpaid work than the male employees as about 63 % of women’s work is unpaid and 33% of men’s work is unpaid (Stats NZ., 2019). The difference in the related percentage is the true evidence of the persistence of problem of gender pay gap in the country. In New-Zealand women are more engaged in the caring work that is generally unpaid. Also, female workers generally tend to work on part-time jobs due to their primary care responsibilities. As per New Zealand statics out of every three working women, one works on part time job as compared to one of out of 10 male employees working as part time employee (Stats NZ., 2019).
The solution this problem discussed in the context of this gender pay gap essay also lies in offering more working flexibilities to women as it has been observed that females have continued to outperform males in terms of educational achievements and hence they are more qualified (Employment New Zealand, 2019). The labor laws must enact such provisions which gives equal opportunities to all the workers, be it male or female to allow them equal access to work. Further, for women workers there could be system of allowing them work from home for certain period of time and parental or maternity leaves. The societal attitudes as well as the beliefs about the males and females and their working capabilities must be changed by way of imparting more education in this context. This would require the collective actions of employers, employees, career advisors and the government.
Discrimination in hiring and paying decisions is yet another problem that still exists in the New Zealand economy. The biasness at the work places which generally gives preferences to the male employees at the top position as they work on the belief that females are generally not that qualified and physically capable to work the top most positions to guide and supervise the lower level management (Ministry For Women, 2019). Bias can influence various decisions at the work-places such as hiring, promotions, assessment of performance and compensation. Sexism is the real reason behind the pay gap in New Zealand (Ministry For Women, 2019). The women are still not treated at the same par at which men are treated in certain areas.
The solution to the problem of biasness is proper education and regulations which gives equal importance and opportunities to the women. The economy has to break the stereotype views. The women must be given independence to work in all the areas along with proper provision of safety controls (Zealand, 2014).
From the above discussion provided in this gender pay gap essay it can be concluded that the gender pay gap is the important indicator of status of gender inequality in New Zealand. Equity in pay and employment could not be achieved for males and females unless it is identified and addressed as to which ways are affecting the gender. Reducing gender pay gaps in the country is not going to benefit a particular organization rather it will because all the workers in the economy will be rewarded equally. The economy will have more opportunity to take the benefit of the enhanced productivity, qualified and educated candidature pool and employee diversity will enhance the financial performance and stakeholder’s value in the company.
References
Employment New Zealand. (2019). Gender pay gap. Gender pay gap essay Retrieved from: https://www.employment.govt.nz/hours-and-wages/pay/pay-equity/gender-pay-gap/
Ministry For Women. (2019). Closing the gender pay gap actions for employers. Retrieved from: https://women.govt.nz/sites/public_files/GPG%20Actions%20for%20Employers_0.pdf
Ministry For Women. (2019). Gender pay gap. Retrieved from: https://women.govt.nz/work-skills/income/gender-pay-gap
Ministry For Women. (2019). Research on the gender pay gap in New Zealand.
National Library of New Zealand. (2019). Understanding the context — the gender pay gap. Retrieved from: https://natlib.govt.nz/he-tohu/learning/social-inquiry-resources/gender-equality/understanding-the-context-the-gender-pay-gap
Quast, L. (2012).
How To Reduce Workplace Gender Segregation And Help Women Obtain Higher Paying Jobs. gender pay gap essay Retrieved from: https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisaquast/2012/11/05/how-to-reduce-workplace-gender-segregation-and-help-women-obtain-higher-paying-jobs/#24c4a7ff2be4 Retrieved from https://women.govt.nz/work-skills/income/gender-pay-gap/research-evidence-gap-new-zealand
Stats NZ. (2019). Measuring the gender pay gap. Retrieved from: http://archive.stats.govt.nz/browse_for_stats/income-and-work/Income/gender-pay-gap.aspx
Zealand, S. N. (2014). Measuring the gender pay gap. Gender pay gap essay Statistics New Zealand, Wellington.
