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5/22/05 THE BOARDROOM Two studies about women in the workplace offer interesting perspectives about their movement into the executive suite. In a joint study by Caliper, a New Jersey management firm, and London-based Aurora, a businesswomen's diversity network and research organization, researchers found that women are more assertive, more likely to take risks, and more empathetic than their male counterparts. The study reveals that female executives are more likely to listen to subordinates and co-workers than their male colleagues. They also tend to talk things over more, resulting in greater input from a variety of people. In addition, they are more flexible and have better interpersonal skills than male executives, the study noted. Even so, women and minorities are still poorly represented on corporate boards, according to a separate study released last week by Catalyst, the women's research group in New York. That study, sponsored by Catalyst and two other groups, suggests that the qualities that may have helped women move into the executive ranks can't help them garner more seats on corporate boards. The researchers said they found ''severe underrepresentation of women and minorities on the boards of the nation's Fortune 100 firms in comparison to their population as a whole.'' ''Increases in media attention, shareholder activism, regulatory requirements, research and reports have redefined the roles, responsibilities and visibility of those serving on the boards of publicly held companies,'' the study continued. But although more women, African-Americans and Latinos are shareholders and have moved into leadership positions, they remain poorly represented on the boards of Fortune 100 firms. For example, as of Sept. 30, 2004, Fortune 100 firms had 1,196 board seats. Of those, 16.72 percent, or 200, were occupied by women, compared with the 996 seats — 83.3 percent of the total — occupied by men. Together, women and minorities held 28.6 percent of the seats and white males held 71.4 percent, the study said. By contrast, all minorities held 178 seats or 14.8 percent. White men and women held 1,018 or 85.1 percent of all the seats. The report found that African-Americans held slightly more than 10 percent, or 120 of the seats. African-American men held 7.8 percent or 93 seats and African-American women had 27, or 2.2 percent of the seats. Latinos held 46, or 3.8 percent of the seats, and Latino men had 40, or 3.3 percent of the total number of board seats on Fortune 100 firms. Hispanic women held only 6, or 0.5 percent of the seats, the study said. The researchers also found that Asians held just 12, or 1 percent of the board seats. ''Although there is a desire for diversity on Fortune 100 boards, very few have representation from all groups and more than 60 percent of the boards have less than a third of their seats occupied by women, minorities or women and minorities.'' Some companies are trying, however. Alcoa had 10 board seats and 6 were classified by the study as ''diverse'' seats. IBM had 12 seats and 7 were held by women or minorities. And, of the 14 seats at Target Corp., 50 percent or 7 went to women and minorities, according to the research. For more information about the study, contact Catalyst at 212-514-7600 or the Executive Leadership Council at 202-298-8226. BENEFITS While workers in other countries are trying to take as many vacations as they can, Americans are giving back vacation days. So says Expedia.com, the online travel site. The website polled more than 11,000 people worldwide, including US workers. It found that France continues to offer more vacation days than any other country. ''Nearly half of French workers take at least one vacation of three to four weeks each year,'' said Kari Swartz, product manager and spokeswoman. ''But Americans are expected to give back, on average, three vacation days per worker. So, not only do we get the least number of days — only 12 — we also tie with Canada in terms of the number of days we will give back to our employers.'' When Expedia asked Americans why they were not taking all of their vacation time, 13 percent said they get money back for unused vacation and 12 percent said they have to schedule their personal time off in advance and don't always get around to doing that. Ten percent were just too busy to take time off. In addition, 19 percent of the Americans said they have canceled or postponed vacation plans because of work. And when they do go on vacation, 16 percent acknowledged they constantly check voice mail or their e-mail to make sure the office doesn't need them. Here are the vacation days workers in some countries receive:
''What is interesting, is that we found out that people in the Netherlands do not take all of their vacation, either,'' said Swartz. ''They leave two of those days on the table.'' However, 62 percent of the workers in the Netherlands take vacations of up to two weeks. By contrast, Americans take quick getaways. Of the respondents from the United States, for example, 48 percent said they take one full week of vacation and then use the remaining time for short breaks. WAGES A group of legislators, unions, and community advocates are demanding that Wal-Mart pay its more than one million employees higher wages. Last week, the group stepped up its assault against Wal-Mart by demanding that the Bentonville, Ark., retail giant turn over all income documents to Congress. The group made its demands in a letter addressed to Wal-Mart chief executive Lee Scott. This was the second push against the firm. Earlier, the groups launched a nationwide anti-Wal-Mart effort. In addition to a letter, the group said it planned to mail an 8-by-8-foot card to Scott signed by the coalition's supporters. Diane E. Lewis can be reached at .
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