Chapter 3 Discussion Post

1. Concept and Brief Description
2. Emotional Hook (provocative question/claim/real-life problem)
3. Key Points to Elicit in Discussion
4. Facilitative Questions

1. This chapter focused on Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO.) This is a term I've always heard thrown around a lot, but never really understand all the facets behind it. It was interesting to see how EEO has evolved and what an in depth role the government plays in creating and enforcing EEO policies. One thing that I've always pondered is the disparity in the quantity of men in executive level positions versus women. There is undoubtedly far less women executives than men. We often hear of the 'glass ceiling' that prevents female professionals from rising above a certain level within an organization. I certainly agree that women have historically and traditionally been discriminated against in the work place. I wonder now, however, how much the glass ceiling actually attributes to this fact. As I look around in my classes, I notice that the disparity between men and women seeking business degrees is vast.

2. Do you feel the lower number of women in executive positions is due to discrimination, due to the fact that less women seek executive positions, or due to some other reason?

3. This is a hard one to pin discrimination on, because it is difficult to apply the four fifths rule of thumb to executive positions, since there is typically only one position available for application. However, it is possible to compare earnings for men and women in similar positions, doing similar work. It is interesting to note that women receive on average less compensation for doing the same work. I've also heard this statistic frequently quoted. I'd be interested to know though, what types of work this includes. If it includs jobs where salaries were negotiated, I would be curious to know if there is a difference in how men and women negotiate (generally speaking.) I'd like to know if women are more or less likely to sternly negotiate a salary then men.

4. Do you feel there are gender personalities traits that better equip a male or female for certain work situations or requirements? (excluding the bonified requirements?)
Would you rather work for a male or female boss?
Would you feel uncomfortable seeing a woman CEO running a company that you worked for or owned a lot of shares in?
Do you feel that men and women have different inherent emotional and logical perspective on situations in general?
If so, are either of these inherent differences more appropriate for executive level management?

Learning Reflections

The interesting topic for me in this class was the discussion on the psychological contract. I've recognized this shift in my personal work experiences and observations of today's work market. It used to be that when you went to work for a company you typically went to work with them for life. In exchange for you loyalty, you could expect that the company would take care you via pensions and 401K's. When you went to retire, your employer would have matched all your savings and provided other programs for you to be able to retire comfortably. These days, as was discussed in class, "employers watch their backs, employees watch theirs." There is not as much implied trust and loyalty between companies and employees. Employees will leave a company if they can find a better deal elsewhere. Employers will chop employees if they can get the same production and results for less expense. Is this a good thing? I think there are definite advantages. No consumer would remain loyal to a product or service that was providing less value for the cost than a competitor. Every employee shops for and buys a product called their employer. By turning employers into products and employees into consumers, the labor market is subject to the beneficial affects of a free market economy. Companies now compete more aggressively to recruit and retain. We see companies today providing so many amenities and perks, including work flexibility, that just didn't exist during the time of the old psychological contract. I recognize there are disadvantages as well, however, for me, the advantages seem to starkly outweigh them.