Benefits October 3, 2006

Bosses Consult Women, Lesser Paid Workers More Infrequently

October 3, 2006 (PLANSPONSOR.com) - Women, the less educated and lower-paid employees are the least likely to be asked to advise their supervisor on a work problem, according to a recent survey.
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At the same time, nearly two-thirds of employees say they get such a request often or occasionally, according to a SHRM.org report. The poll was conducted August 25-29 for CO2 Partners, a Minnesota leadership development firm.

“People need to be respected and listened to,” said CO2 Partners President Gary Cohen in a press release, according to the news report. “Despite a trend toward greater teamwork and maximizing individual contribution, it’s disturbing that the input of so many people is still ignored. After all, employees are a key source of valuable information needed to enhance organizational performance.”

Among the findings, according to the SHRM report:

  • 40% of employees with a high school education or less were seldom or never asked for advice, compared to 29.9% of college graduates.
  • 45.7% of employees who earn less than $25,000 annually said their employer seldom or never consulted them, vs. 24.7% of those earning more than $75,000.
  • 34.7% of female employees were seldom or never asked for their advice, compared to 30.8% of male employees.

But while Cohen noted that it’s a sign of regard for an employer to seek an employee’s contribution, he cautioned employers against asking questions merely for the sake of going through the motions.

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