What can You do?

If you are an employee:

  1. You have to be aware that research shows: women typically ask for less money for the same job than men.
  2. Before your job interview and salary negotiations
    • Compile data:
      • What is the pay in similar jobs in similar companies? Use the internet, do your research!
      • What are your friends, family members make at similar jobs at comparable companies?
      • What does your more experienced friend think and suggest the right salary is in the job you are interviewing for?
    • Practice how you will discuss this topic at the interview
      • Write down your questions and possible answers to their questions, anticipate the discussion, get ready, practice and so you will not be surprised and do not need to improvise without information. 
      • Ask a friend or daily member to sit down and practice with you, to give you tips for being more prepared and professional.
  3. During the interview
    • If you can avoid accepting the first offer they are making. Ask for time to consider it!
    • Just do that you know: women normally accept a lower pay than men.
    • Do not accept the first offer, a lot of employers count on the fact that you will negotiate, so they did not offer you their real offer, they expect you to higher the amount, they are prepared to pay more than what they offer first.
  4. Your starting salary will always have an effect on how much you get later. It is important where you start!

If you’re an employer, HR professional or company leader:

  1. Analyse your salary figures at your organisation, check it by gender and find out what the difference is. Understand why you have a difference. 
  2. You can only do something against unequal pay if you are aware of it.

Prepare a short time and a long term plan for eliminating the difference if you have any. It is not cool if you discriminate.