THE POWER OF FEMALE MILLENNIALS TO DRIVE GENDER EQUITY

As equal pay, paid parental leave, and other traditional topics related to gender equity in the office dominate the headlines, the preferences, outlook and impact of millennials are also becoming part of the conversation surrounding the changing nature of the workplace. A recent report by Bay Area Council member PwC titled “The female millennial: A new era of talent” goes to the heart of these issues. Its key findings, which were presented by PwC International Global Diversity and Inclusion Program Officer Dale Meikle at an event hosted by the Bay Area Council Gender Equity Committee last week, include that 85 percent of female millennials said an employer’s policy on diversity, equality and workforce inclusion was important when deciding whether or not to work for an employer and a full 97 percent of both male and female millennials said work-life balance and flexibility is important to them. Ms. Meikle’s presentation was followed by a robust conversation on the report and its practical implications, which many in the audience sharing their experiences and opinions.

The Gender Equity Committee, under the leadership of Co-Chairs Peg McAllister (Lee Hecht Harrison), Stuart Newton (Deloitte) and Christopher Ruhl (PwC), plans to continue this conversation at its next meeting, which will be scheduled shortly.

In the meantime, the committee continues to seek funders for a report by the Bay Area Council Economic Institute on gender equity “best practices.” Several organizations have already committed funds to this project, including the San Francisco 49ers, Lawrence Livermore National Lab, Wells Fargo & Company, Suffolk Construction, and Deloitte. For more information, please contact Policy Associate Brianne Riley.