The Executive Climb: Sharing the Ladder

Darling Communications celebrates National Equal Pay Day. Today, April 4, 2017, highlights the wage gap between men and women. It is held every April to symbolize how far into the year women need to work to make what men did in the previous year.

Darling Communications’ primary initiative engages senior executive men to play a significant role in accelerating women’s leadership and professional opportunities. As the CEO of Darling Communications, I encourage men to take a look in the mirror and ask themselves, “Are we part of the problem or part of the solution?” If you’re part of the problem, join your male and female counterparts who intentionally problem solve in this area.

Senior executive males have more power than they realize. Men of influence and power can make change for women, today. Here are four strategies senior executive males can utilize to move the inequality needle in a positive direction:

  1. Start by advocating and championing equal pay within your work environment.
  1. Raise awareness to the impact lower wages have on the quality of women’s lives. Ask yourself a personal question considering, “If 23 cents were taken out of every dollar I brought home, how would that significantly impact quality of my family’s life?” Let the answer move you to action.
  1. Recognize and openly highlight female employees’ contribution to the growth of the company and the bottom line.
  1. Make equality within your business a “Core Value” simply because it’s the right thing to do, and to attract and recruit the best female talent. Essentially, you’re holding the corporate ladder supporting qualified and talented women’s climb to sit alongside their male counterparts at the leadership table.

For more information on what your organization can do to champion equality in the workplace, contact Darling Communications at info@darlingcommunications.com for a consultation.

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How Unequal Pay Impacts You: Share Your Story

The Capital’s steps are crowded with women donning RED. The message is women will no longer stand for less than EQUALITY. The wage gap impacts women throughout their entire lifetime. It shows up early as the inability to fund your retirement because you’re earning less and the funds are going to more immediate needs such as child care, transportation, insurance, food, shelter, and education, just name a few. Protesting is not enough! You can take action today! You’ve got to tell your powerful story to help raise awareness and change policies around gender equality issues for all women. Click <http://aauwmi.org/share-your-story-of-unequal-pay/> to share your story, today “International Women’s Day”. 

Many Want To Participate In Women’s International Day Strike, But Can’t

David McNew / Getty Images

Today, March 8th, is International Women’s Day and women all over the globe are showing solidarity by striking from employment. Women are asserting it’s “A Day Without Women”. Is it really? Can all women afford to strike? Considering the pay gap in the US gives me pause. Latina women earn 54% of what White men make; African American women make 63% of what White men are paid; American Indian women bring home 60% of what White men earn; White women earn 76% and Asian women’s wage gap is 90% of what their male counterparts bring home, respectively. Therefore, I would conclude that more women of color will be at work today. Other’s simply can’t afford to strike for fear of losing their jobs. However, I do applaud women who can participate. This is an enormous opportunity to bring attention to an important issue.

Doing Away With Mad Men Policies

President Obama addressed women pay issues in his 2014 State of the Union Address. He says, “Women earn 77 cents to every dollar a man takes home and in 2014 Income inequality for women is an embarrassment.” We are already aware of this. He continues on to say, “We need to do a way with policies that belong in an episode of Mad Men.

President Obama Address Women issuesWhat’s equally embarrassing is gender inequality at the executive level.  Women make up 4.5 percent of the Fortune 500 companies and 4.2 percent of the Fortune 100 companies. Women can make a stand and take action by hitting organizations and companies where it counts, in their pockets!

Take a Sabbatical

relaxing-dog

Life can be wonderful, splendid and adversarial. When life is complicated over an extended period of time take a mental or a physical sabbatical. A mental sabbatical involves taking a few moments out your day to reflect on memorable experiences or perhaps a poem that brings you joy.

A physical sabbatical is exactly that. Plan a one day or extended vacation. Please do not take any work related materials or stressful thoughts on your journey. This is your debriefing period. Consider what will elevate your mood and expand your happiness. Browse through a book you’ve always wanted to read. Take a drive along a peaceful setting and just breathe.  Be intentional about your rest and relaxation excursion. Just do it.