Sticky floor syndrome

Posted by Jenni Colwill on 6 October 2010 | 0 Comments

Tags: EOWA Census 2010, women in leadership

It's that time of year again – you know, the time that the Equal Opportunity for Women in the Workplace Agency to tell us, once again, how poorly women are doing in leadership roles in Australia.  Some call it the glass ceiling, but I prefer to call it the sticky floor syndrome.

This year the EOWA data tells us that despite all the talk, nothing much has changed.  Surprise!  Why would it, when our lives are so sweet at the bottom levels!

• Compared with New Zealand, UK, Canada, US and South Africa, Australia has the lowest percentage of women on boards.
• Compared with the UK, Canada, USA and South Africe, Australia has the lowest percentage of women in Executive Key Management Personnel roles.
• Women chair five boards and hold 8.4% of Board Directorships in ASX 200 companies in 2010, compared with 8.3% in 2008.  A whole 1% increase.
• In 2008, 51% of ASX 200 companies had no women directors.  In 2010, that figure has increased to 54%.

You can read more of the depressing report, if you are interested.  I don't think I'll bother - I'm too busy licking up all this sugar on the floor!