In a radical step, the government of Nikolas Sarkozy has introduced legislation to require all listed companies in France to have 50 per cent of their directors women within five years. Companies must have 20 per cent women directors within 18 months and 40 per cent within four years. These requirements exceed those introduced in Norway which requires only 40 per cent women on boards and which gave companies a longer time frame to achieve the numbers. What will Australia do?
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French government legislates to require 50 per cent women on boards4 comments to French government legislates to require 50 per cent women on boards |
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Crazy! the ultimate in nanny state legislation. people should be in employment based on job skills alone, not gender.
Been there, done that. 4 degrees including Masters and no “openings” due to trumped up reasons – really because it was jobs for the boys. This is really still going on. I got out and ran my own business. I think the legislation is a great idea because it’s the only way it will happen. We’ve already been waiting for equality over 100 years and also for equality in Equal Pay! Although we have ‘legislation’ it is a farce. Bring it on!
MK, crazy you say? Isn’t it crazy that the talent of half the world’s population is not being utilized. Have the boards of companies, parliamentary parties, beauracracies not had sufficient time to lift their game and even consider women, non-WASPs or other so called minority groups. Sure, ideally we should not have to resort to legistlation to promote egalitarian, meritocratic consideration for positions weilding authority and power, however it is precisely the failed behaviour of the encumbent power holders and brokers that forces the legislative approach to break the status quo. Only when the stranglehold of male power paradigm is broken, and other sectors of capable society are considered should the legislation be dismantled. A solution could be a graduated sunset clause, sufficiently long to allow generational, structural change. Sure there will be mistakes, but there are appalling mistakes being made by the current power elite. An additional benefit will be that women will not have to compete with men on their terms, bringing their own, different competencies to the table of power.
And just in case anyone has any doubts, look at the Nordic models – these countries have a better record (though not perfect) on the inclusion of women and they have high standards of living, better social and health environments for their populace, and action on improving the impact of humans on the environment. If you have any doubt, take a look at strongly patriarchal societies, a good current example being Greece.
Lynn, I fully agree. Though I don’t like this kind of rule that forces companies to finally change their ways it seems to be the only way to make it happen. I am currently in a company where the old boys (and younger boys!) networks is very strong and actively (!) excludes women – and it won’t change ever if not through a requirement like this.
And, mk, may I say this bullshit about only skills that count is for greenhorns and people fresh from university (though actually, MBAs will have heard at their school that skills accounts for only 20 – 30 % likelihood of success).