The travel industry has been taking a long, hard look at its own gender pay gap. While there are gaps, crucially we don’t see much complacency: I loved easyJet’s campaign to encourage more women to train to be pilots. Those of us with work to do – and I include my own business – are committing to striving for improvement.
I’m proud that at RCL Cruises Ltd we have 100% equal pay, but like most businesses we have a gender pay gap. We see more men in senior and higher-paid roles such as in IT, marine and technical disciplines. We also have more women working part time, flexi-time and in junior roles.
Of course, there are wider social and cultural factors at work. Long-established attitudes affect women returning to work after having children, and when I was at school what were seen as technical subjects were only offered to boys. Today, businesses – and so our economy – are paying the price.
Research shows that men will apply for a job if they have 60% of the required qualifications, whereas women only put themselves forward when they meet 100% of them. The reality is that unless confidence is addressed, better-qualified women will not even be in the running for roles.
I am lucky to be part of a business where I see the impact of high-profile action to boost women’s confidence. Our brand president and chief executive, Lisa Lutoff-Perlo, couldn’t be more vocal about championing women, and it breeds an environment where anything is possible. We have more female captains in command of our ships than any other cruise line, for example.
With the help of experts at the mentoring network everywoman we’ve shone a light internally on our recruitment, leadership training and mentoring. All RCL Cruises’ employees have free everywoman membership and access to its training. Unconscious bias training is an eye-opening requirement for everyone, too.
It’s great to read in TTG that we are not alone in these efforts and many organisations are making changes.
Being part of a mission to boost women’s confidence is one reason I’m involved in the everywoman in Travel Awards, and I am thrilled to have been contacted by senior men in the industry keen to champion diversity. As a result, in this year’s everywoman in Travel Awards there will be a Male Agent of Change award – tackling equality is everyone’s responsibility.
If the attention to the gender pay gap hasn’t been enough of a shot in the arm, note the words of Nobel Peace Prize winner Malala Yousafzai, spoken aged just 16: “We cannot succeed when half of us are held back.” Attention on equality means more businesses are realising they are only halfway to achieving their potential if they don’t change. I hope all-male boardrooms pay heed to Malala’s wise words.
Jo Rzymowska is vice-president & managing director, UK, Ireland & Asia for Celebrity Cruises
