Blog #1 Business Ethics: The Fight for Gender Equality
For decades, women have been lobbying for equal treatment, at home, in the workplace, and in society as a whole. There are some who assume that the goal of workplace equality has already been reached. With that in mind, it may be surprising to discover that, as of this moment, the Wall Street based investment banking firm, Goldman Sachs Inc, is being sued for alleged “gender bias” by three former female employees. The amount is undefined. The lawsuit is based on two basic contentions: that women have less opportunity for job promotion and that women have been victims of pay discrimination. In their defense, Goldman Sachs Inc stated that they “make extraordinary efforts to recruit, develop and retain outstanding women professionals.” However, the three former employees point to the numbers which show that women constitute 29% of vice presidents and 17% of managing directors. This scenario really calls into question whether or not business should overlook a more qualified individual in order to promote a more diverse workplace. While the three female former employees believe that Goldman Sachs Inc views men more favorably, Goldman Sachs may believe that, coincidently, the company had more qualified male workers. Whatever the outcome, it is important these situations involving workplace equality are investigated in order to promote justice and fairness in the workplace.
http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/39191541/ns/business-us_business/