Company Culture is Key to Unlocking Gender Equality and Narrowing Pay Gap, New Accenture Research Finds

JAKARTA, Indonesia, March 23, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- New research from Accenture (NYSE: ACN) has identified 40 workplace factors that create a culture of equality -- including 14 factors that matter the most. The research, published today in the company's "Getting to Equal 2018" report, details the most-effective actions that business leaders can take to accelerate advancement and help close the gender pay gap.

The research is based on a survey of more than 22,000 working men and women in 34 countries -- including 700 in Indonesia -- to measure their perception of factors that contribute to their workplace cultures. The survey was supplemented with in-depth interviews and a detailed analysis of published data on a range of workforce issues.

"Our research shows that in companies with cultures that include the workplace factors that help women advance, men thrive too, and we all rise together," said Neneng Goenadi, Accenture Indonesia Country Managing Director. "We see this research as a powerful reminder that building a culture of equality is essential to achieving gender equality because people, not programs, are what make a company inclusive and diverse." 

Accenture's research found that in companies, specifically Indonesia, which implements the 40 factors, everyone benefits as follows:

• 95% of employees are satisfied with their career progression.
• 99% of employees aspire to get promoted.
• 99% aspire to become senior leaders in their organizations.

Globally, all the factors above are 95%. And, everyone has a better opportunity to advance:

• Women in Indonesia are 22%, which is lower than global's 35%, more likely to advance to manager or above and lead their peer group in terms of advancement in the workplace.
• Globally, men are 23% more likely to advance to manager or above and 5 times as likely to advance to senior manager/director or above.

While both women and men advance in companies in which the 40 factors are common, women have the most to gain. If all working environments in Indonesia were like those in which the 40 factors are most common:

• Globally, for every 100 male managers, there could be as many as 84 female managers, up from the current ratio of 34.

Setting clear diversity targets, the research found, is a crucial step for leaders who want to strengthen their cultures.

"Culture is set from the top, so if women are to advance, gender equality must be a strategic priority for the C-suite," said Ellyn Shook, Accenture's chief leadership & human resources officer. "It's critical that companies create a truly human environment where people can be successful both professionally and personally -- where they can be who they are and feel they belong, every day."

The report, which builds on Accenture's 2017 research on how digital fluency and technology can close the gender gap in the workplace, grouped the 14 core factors proven to influence advancement into three categories of bold leadership, comprehensive action and an empowering environment. Key Indonesia findings in the three categories include:

• Bold leadership: Women are 21% more likely to be on the fast track in organizations where leadership teams are held accountable for improving gender diversity (75% compared to 61%).
• Comprehensive action: Involvement in a women's network correlates with women's advancement, but 41% of the women surveyed for the report work for organizations without such a network. In companies that have a women's network, 55% of women participate, with 44% of those women in a women's network that also includes men.
• An empowering environment: The highest factor linked to advancement is giving employees trust and responsibility (75%) and freedom to be innovative and creative (53%).

Read the global report here: Getting to Equal 2018

Methodology

As part of its "Getting to Equal 2018" research, Accenture surveyed more than 22,000 working men and women with a university education in 34 countries -- including 700 working men and women in Indonesia -- to understand what it will take to create a workplace culture in which women and men have equal opportunities for advancement and pay. The survey was supplemented by in-depth interviews with "fast-track women" -- i.e., women who have moved further and faster through their organizations than other women -- to add to the understanding of the issues. Accenture also analyzed published data related to a range of workforce issues, including labor force, progression, talent gaps, culture at work, sexual harassment, company gender by level and company best practice. Combining the findings of the survey and of the desk research, Accenture developed an econometric model to establish which factors make the most difference to women's chances of advancing. The model has been used to explore a series of 'what if' questions to understand the implications in terms of advancement and pay gap reduction if the changes suggested are implemented.

About Accenture

Accenture is a leading global professional services company, providing a broad range of services and solutions in strategy, consulting, digital, technology and operations. Combining unmatched experience and specialized skills across more than 40 industries and all business functions -- underpinned by the world's largest delivery network -- Accenture works at the intersection of business and technology to help clients improve their performance and create sustainable value for their stakeholders. With more than 435,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture drives innovation to improve the way the world works and lives. Visit us at www.accenture.com.

For more information, please contact:

Accenture Indonesia
Nia Sarinastiti
Marketing & Communication Director
Wisma 46 - Kota BNI - Lantai 18
Jl. Jend. Sudirman Kav.1, Jakarta 10220
Tel : +6221 574 6575
Email: nia.sarinastiti@accenture.com