Popularised by author Mark Twain, who attributed it to British Prime Minister Benjamin Disraeli, the quote “Lies, Damned Lies and Statistics” has never been more appropriate than when applied to the issue of the Gender Pay Gap.The term itself is often misquoted but generally when people quote “the gender pay gap” what they mean is the percentage by which the average hourly rate of pay for women in full time employment is lower than the average hourly rate of pay for men in full time employment.For Europe generally that figure is 17%. UK statistics show a lower figure of 14.9%, the USA higher at about 22%, although there are lots of arguments about these rates. The goal, in terms of gender equality, is to narrow that gap and to do that we have to reach a point where women earn the same as men.But this is where it starts to get complicated.First the term average means by definition that half the population are doing better than that and the other half are worse off. So there are lots of examples where women are earning the same or even better than men – but there are also lots of examples where the position is far worse.In fact once we start to unravel the statistics we find a number of very disturbing facts.Some employment sectors like health and financial services are a lot worse than the average – while the public sector is mostly better. In the UK Financial services sector for example, the gender pay gap is a staggering 55%. However the way the gender pay gap is calculated actually makes the problem seem better than it really is.This statistic tells us that on average women working full time earn just $450 for every $1000 earned by men. In order to equalise pay we need to increase women’s pay. If we increased average pay for women by 100%, another $450 in my example, that would be $900 – still not equal to men.If we express the gender pay gap by reference to how much women earn instead of the other way around, the figures become unpalatable. In the financial services industry men in full time employment earn on average 122% more than women in full time employment – more than double. And this gets even worse when we look at part time earnings where the gender pay gap is much higher, in part because 78% of part time workers are woman.So why, nearly half a century after equal pay legislation, do we still have such an insurmountable problem with gender equality especially when statistics show that there is no real difference between the rates of pay for men and women when doing the same or equivalent jobs. I came across a very male oriented site that might give a clue.”… the 22-cent “pay gap” is neither a result of gender bias nor workplace discrimination. It can be explained entirely by the fact that women as a group tend to make certain very logical and legitimate employment-related choices which, while affording them a number of benefits that they value highly, tend to suppress incomes – Male Matters USA.”Let’s consider this. Over 70% of employees in healthcare are female, yet the highest paid jobs are largely held by men and for many years women were excluded from those higher paid jobs. The jobs traditionally employing women are lower paid than the jobs traditionally employing men. Women seem to be better than men in work involving social and caring skills, where men seem to be better than women in manufacturing and construction work.However the choice of career is not entirely legitimate, logical or free from bias. Women are socialised into expecting to work in traditionally female work and to expect to take a career break to have children. There is plenty of evidence to show that by the age of two or three children have very clear beliefs regarding gender roles, behaviour and expectations.More importantly most of us have undergone the same gender socialisation process as a result of which we tend to be unconsciously biased towards encouraging women away from higher paid jobs. If a man works long hours he is applauded, where a woman will be criticised. If a woman negotiates hard and is money orientated she will be viewed as unfriendly and selfish – where a man is considered dynamic and successful.It is very difficult for a man to see and understand that unconscious bias and hidden prejudice – I could not see it as a man, but now living as a woman and subjected to that bias it is a different story, especially when I lost the natural privileges granted to men.Imagine a world where most women did, as most men apparently do, seek work primarily for the purpose of accumulating wealth or refused to work in low paid industries like healthcare and education, or chose not to have children or handed them over to low paid child carers. Is that really a better alternative?The problem is that many women are good at social skills and enjoy caring just as many men are good at construction and enjoy making things and without that balance of skills and passions our society would be much poorer. Unfortunately we don’t value the work we expect women to do as much as we value the work we expect men to do and until we change our values we will continue to have gender inequality.
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How A Dallas Fort Worth Group Health Insurance Brokers Can Save Businesses Valuable Time and Money
Many small to mid-sized business owners in Dallas Fort Worth turn over duties like shopping for more affordable group health insurance quotes to their administrative assistants. This is an acceptable and perfectly normal practice.Yet, an administrative assistant is often left with little guidance other from their boss other than “find a group health plan in Texas that is more affordable than what we have,” or to “shop around to find the best rates.” This article is designed to give the administrative assistance some basic information that can help the overall process and the results of shopping around for group health insurance.First of all, businesses should know that group health insurance is a highly regulated and very competitive business. Four health insurance carriers, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas, United Healthcare, Aetna and Unicare represent about 80 % of the small group health insurance market in Texas. Each of these four group health insurance companies are financially “A rated, and have their own extensive PPO health care provider networks throughout the state.Many of the other group health insurance companies that offer health plans “rent” another company’s PPO healthcare provider network. Some of these other health insurance companies are not as financially strong, with an AM Best rating of less than “A.” While many of these other group health insurance companies are good companies, a company should be sure to review plans from the top four companies first and should have a good reason why to consider another company’s plans.If a business owner or administrative assistant picks up the phone and contacts each insurance company individually, they will waste considerable time and effort, and will not get any better rates than if they contacted a competent group health insurance broker who represents all or several companies.Likewise, if a business owner or administrative assistant surfs the net and fills out a form with their company’s contact information and employee census information in order to get a quote, they can be assured of getting several calls a day for months, as that online form that they filled out was likely from a lead generation company that turns around and sells that information to dozens or hundreds of agents who will in turn contact the company and ask for an appointment.The best place for a business owner or administrative assistant to start is to select a knowledgeable group health insurance broker or multi-line insurance agency who will listen to their needs and ask the questions that are needed to provide the type of plan designs and programs that will meet the business needs.A company does not pay any more or any less for going through a group health insurance broker; the rates are the same whether a company works directly with an insurance company or through a broker. And since a broker will be much more attentive to the company needs than a big group health insurance company, the company will get service and expertise at no extra cost.Actually, every group health insurance company in Texas reserves the right to modify the initial rates quoted to a company based on the underwriting of the individual employee health insurance applications, and a knowledgeable broker will make certain that their client knows this and may ask questions regarding the number of major health claims that the company incurred during the past year, or the number of known employees or dependents with health issues, so that the broker can give the company a better estimate of what the final rates may be before the applications are submitted to the group health insurance carrier for underwriting approval.A knowledgeable group health insurance agent should also have a good general understanding of which insurance companies are likely to be the most competitive based on the type of company, the size of the business, and overall age makeup of the company’s workforce even before the underwriting process is completed.A good to great group health insurance agent is truly a trusted advisor to the firm, and can recommend plan designs and programs that over the long term will save the company hundreds of thousands of dollars, such as Consumer Driven Health Plans like health savings accounts or health reimbursement arrangements, and complementary programs like employee wellness plans that can work in tandem to reduce future health insurance rate increases.A company should beware if a group health insurance agent promises to “save the company money” with competitive rates, without knowing anything about the company. Chances are the agent is trying to tell the company what they want to hear in order to win their business. Likewise, the group health insurance agent who “pushes” one company’s plans without presenting alternatives may have a hidden agenda. And the group health insurance agent who offers a round of golf, a free lunch, or ticket to sporting events to win a company’s business may also not have knowledge and expertise or have the company’s best interests at heart.The Dallas group health insurance broker who has received specialized training in employee benefits and consumer driven health plan design, such as the CBC (Chartered Benefits Consultant) professional designation, and who asks the prospective client for a half hour of time to discuss their needs and get the information that they need to come back and present thought out recommendations based on a survey of all of the major carriers in the company’s area is the type of agent or agency that an administrative assistant can be assured has the company’s best interests at heart.
A Guide to Help You Pick the Best Air Purifier for Your Loved Ones
Holidays are around the corner. This is the time of year when people start purchasing gifts for their loved ones. If you are going to purchase an air purifier for someone you love, we have some helpful tips for you. If you want to purchase the best unit, you may be able to use this guide to your advantage. Read on to find out more.
1: Set Your Budget
Just like anything you purchase, make sure you have set your budget first. The price of the unit will vary based on a lot of factors, such as the capacity, filter type, features, and brand of the unit. If you don’t have a flexible budget, we suggest that you go for a product that is available to purchase for less than $300.
2: Consider the Needs of the Recipient
Your next move is to consider the needs of your recipient. If you are going to purchase this unit for everyday use, we suggest that you go for a unit that comes with a HEPA filter. On the other hand, if your loved one has a specific need, we suggest that you consider a specialized unit.
For example, if they are more prone to respiratory issues, such as allergies and infections, we suggest that you get a UV purifier for them. The devices are designed to neutralize viruses and bacteria.
3: Think About the Available Space
Another primary factor is to consider the available space in the office or house of the recipient. For example, if they need a general-purpose unit for a small apartment, you may want to consider a filterless unit.
On the other hand, if they have plenty of free space, you may consider a bigger unit that features a higher airflow rating. These units are powerful enough to cover a large face.
4: Consider Extra Features
Lastly, we suggest that you consider additional features that they will just love. For example, some units come with an indicator that turns on when the filter needs to be replaced. This will allow the user to change the filter so that the device continues to work properly.
So, you may want to consider these features before you place your order. These features may not be important to you, but your friend may just be over the moon.
Long story short, we suggest that you consider these four tips if you are going to purchase a gift for your loved one on these holidays. Since the air is full of pollution during winter days, nothing can make a better gift than an air purifier. Therefore, you should consider these tips before looking for an online or physical store to make your purchase decision.