Sexes disagree on status of women in workplace: Survey

Women believe they have unequal access to opportunities at work, men disagree

When it comes to access to opportunities at work, men and women disagree on just how far women have come, according to a survey by Monster.ca. The survey of 2,040 Canadians found 33 per cent of women say they have less access to opportunities at work than men, whereas just 17 per cent of men responded this way.

"There's still room for improvement in both women's access to opportunities and in the perceived breakdown between the sexes," said Peter Gilfillan, senior vice-president of international sales and general manager at Monster Canada. "It appears that Canadian men and women have conflicting perceptions and managers need to take a leading role in ensuring that all employees are seen as having equal access to those opportunities."

More than two-thirds (67 per cent) of men also said women have equal or greater access to opportunities in the workplace than men, and 47 per cent of women agreed.

"Among HR professionals, the proportion of women in senior HR roles is an important issue," says Claude Balthazard, director of HR excellence at the Human Resources Professional Association (HRPA). "Recent surveys of HRPA members show that although, overall, there is a strong representation of women in the HR profession — more than 75 per cent — it is also the case that this proportion seems to reverse itself for senior management and executive positions."

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