90% of Hong Kong women probe companies' policies on equality when job-hunting: report

Hong Kong organizations need to do more.

An employer’s policy on diversity, equality and workforce inclusion is a key deciding factor when choosing a new job for nine out of ten women in Hong Kong.

According to a release from PwC, based on its new report, "The female millennial: A new era of talent," it surveyed female millenials in Hong Kong (women born between 1980 – 1995), as part of a wider global PwC study to understand what this generation of female workers wants from the workplace.

The report reveals that despite the high value female millennials in Hong Kong place on an organisation’s diversity policy, many organisations in the city still have a way to go before embedding their diversity policies into their business.

The majority (62%) of female millennials surveyed in Hong Kong said that organisations talk about diversity but they do not feel that opportunities are equal for all.

For example, despite many organisations having work/life balance and flexible programmes and policies in place, only 19% of this generation of women in Hong Kong have a formal flexible work arrangement.

Nearly a quarter (24%) of female millennials in Hong Kong said they don’t have the opportunity to take advantage of a flexible working practice.

Here's more from PwC:

Even if female millennials in Hong Kong do have the opportunity to work flexibly, many are concerned about the impact it would have on their career. Over half (58%) believe that taking advantage of work/life balance and flexible programmes will have negative consequences for their career progression.

“Female millennials will make up a quarter of the global workforce alone by 2020, so it is important that organisations in Hong Kong understand what motivates this generation of workers and what they are looking for from an employer,” says Zhou Xing, PwC China and Hong Kong Diversity Leader.

“Our research highlights a notable shift in career expectations from the female millennial compared to previous generations. These findings suggest a need for change in the future workplace. Employers must have more than just flexible policies; they need to make sure they have a flexible culture where people are not afraid to take advantage of the programmes.”

The good news for organisations is that female millenials in Hong Kong are ambitious, with four in ten believing they can reach the very top levels with their current employer. In order to attract the best talent, organisations will need to be aware of what motivates this generation of workers.

The report shows that a good benefits package (45%), competitive wages (36%) and career progression (35%) are high on their agenda when considering an employer, along with flexible working arrangements (29%).

A lack of flexibility is one of the main reasons female millennials would consider leaving their current employer, only behind finding a job that pays more elsewhere and the work not being interesting and meaningful enough.

While Hong Kong organisations realise the importance of having a diversity and inclusion policy in place, the findings reveal that many are still slow in putting the policies into action.

Female millenials today are more highly educated and are entering the workforce in larger numbers than previously. Organisations in Hong Kong risk losing these potential talents if they don’t put their diversity and inclusion policies into action.