The Paperless Pay Gap
Generation Z (those born in the 1990’s and raised in the 2000’s) will soon be entering the workforce. They will influence, inspire and insist on digital and personalised ways of working that couldn’t be imagined even a few years ago.
According to a report by Human Resource Executive Online “The way they work is different, and they’re going to change the workplace.” This is a generation that think very differently because computers have always been in their lives, they are the first generation in the history of mankind to experience life through the lens of digital technology.
Their influence is already being felt across many aspects of life, business and politics. Their ability to harness the power of mass communication through social media is startling and impressive. They wouldn’t think of handwriting a CV when applying for a job or entering a competition. A judge at a prestigious competition said that she had witnessed remarkable changes in the last few years, she says “No one had paper resumes, it was entirely paperless“.
The impact of technology has also infiltrated the resolutely unequal area of pay between genders. Nearly 50 years after the passage of the Equal Pay Act of 1963, women continue to earn less than men do in nearly every occupation. Mark Crail of XpertHR said: “An entire generation has now worked its way through from school leaver to retirement since the first equal pay legislation came into effect in 1970, yet the gender pay gap persists. And many employers still prefer not to know just how bad it is rather than doing something about it”.
A report by AAUW concluded that “Men are more likely than women to work in business and management occupations, computer and physical science occupations, and as engineers.”
Generation Z will choose (to work for) tech-savvy organisations
A recent headline in the Independent sums up the reality of the pay gap declaring that “Pay gap between men and women means female bosses work 57 days a year ‘for free.'”
However, there is one area where the pay gap has disappeared. Following a study by specialist Technology recruiter DICE, they say that when you control for education, level of experience and parallel job titles men and women are paid the same. Tom Silver, Senior Vice President of DICE, thinks he knows why, he says, “When it comes to technology employment, it’s a skills driven marketplace”.
Catering for Generation Z
It’s worth reviewing some old beliefs that Generation Z just wouldn’t recognise or understand. They have grown up ‘digital’ and might find unequal pay an outrage and practices like working with paper rather quaint.
Gender pay gap – simply ridiculous
Working at speed of paper – no longer acceptable
Being tied to your desk – no need
Office information isn’t on your mobile – no reason why not
Desk piled high with paperwork …why?
So it’s important to make your business ready for Generation Z as the best candidates will choose only technologically savvy organisations. Get in touch to find out how we can help you go paperless for the future.
