Women's Equality Day, the 19th Amendment (which guaranteed a woman's right to vote), and the Equal Pay Act are all early steps that have led to shaping gender equality in today's work force. In recognition of Women's Equality Day, the recruiting experts at America's Job Exchange take a look at the history of women and work. To truly look at the evolution of women's roles in the working world, let&...

Of people age 55 and older, over 40 percent remain in the workforce. Many factors contribute to older workers remaining in the labor market longer, some of which include the economic downturn, increases in health costs and an aging population. As more and more older Americans look to pursue different careers or take on part-time employment to subsidize their income, there are several occupations that are growing particul...

Women are using their skills and abilities in many industries to maximize their career and annual pay. They have to. The female presence in the workforce has grown to 47 percent, according to the Department of Labor Women’s Bureau. In fact, the Bureau also reports that young women are more likely than men to have a college degree. Unfortunately, gains in workforce participation and education have not translated into e...

Women have been facing pay discrimination for decades – and unfortunately, continue to do so today. In fact, women earn 79 cents for every dollar earned by men, even though they make up almost 50 percent of today’s workforce. [i] When President Kennedy enacted the Equal Pay Act (EPA) in 1963, visit here http://www.eeoc.gov/, women were actually earning even less – or 59 cents for every dollar earned by...

I’m sure you’ve noticed the ubiquitous statements against racial inequality in recent days. Such statements are being issued by public organizations, educational and nonprofit institutions, and for-profit companies. These statements are, sorry to say, generally mealy-mouthed in nature. It is very unusual for any entity to come out publicly to disavow both explicit racism and microaggressions. (Kudos to Ben &...

I’ve seen it many times. After wrapping up one of my presentations, I’m approached by a Baby Boomer or Gen X manager who says, “My young employees just don’t have any common sense! How can I understand them?” Other times I hear more extreme responses like, “My Millennial employees are lazy and entitled. I regret hiring anyone under 35.” I am strongly against generational shami...

After a great response to my recent post on saying thanks to employees, I began thinking about small actions that lead to big results. For example, knowing a junior employee’s name can be more impactful on that person’s motivation than a $1,000 bonus. Then I came across this Harvard Business Review article on tips to cultivate more inclusive meetings. How simple! I understand that diversity is a complicat...

Many of my clients ask what to do about age discrimination during the job search. The plain truth is if you’re waiting for ageism to disappear from the job market, one thing is certain: However old you are, you’ll grow much older waiting. Age-based discrimination may be illegal, but it remains pervasive despite its illegality. In any event, the law isn’t the recourse you need. “Failure to Hire&rdq...

Here is a quotation that I share in my training programs on generational diversity: “I see no hope for the future of our people if they are dependent on the frivolous youth of today.” In what era do you think this was written? This week’s Economist? A political speech from the 1960s? The Roaring Twenties? The late eighteenth century? In fact, these words are attributed to the poet Hesiod, all the...

Companies that love to brag about their distinct and defining cultures often cite culture as a significant recruiting tool. In turn, their hiring managers often regard the nebulous “cultural fit” as the most essential factor in evaluating candidates. But is this a good way to hire? Not always. What tends to happen is that rather than hiring for cultural fit, managers hire for personal fit. Instead of seeking out...