95% of Filipinos actually love their jobs, study says

A new survey by Accenture has found that in the Philippines, almost 98 percent of respondents aspired for promotion and 96 percent hoped to become senior leaders in their companies.

While that may seem surprising, as it seems natural to assume that everybody—or 100 percent of the respondents—would want to be promoted and/or become senior leaders, the figures are still impressive, according to Ambe Tierro, senior managing director and Advanced Technology Center lead for Accenture in the Philippines and Global Intelligence Capability and Delivery lead for Accenture Technology.

The responses of the more than 700 Filipinos who participated in the study “Getting to Equal 2018”, as part of Accenture’s observance of International Women’s Month in March, indicate their workplaces have the factors that create “a culture of equality.”
Some 95 percent of the Filipino respondents also declared they love their jobs.

This is the third year Accenture, a leading global professional services company providing a broad range of corporate services and solutions, has conducted the study.
This year, 22,000 working men and women in 34 countries were polled.

Tierro says, for the women in particular, the companies that have created a culture of equality provide employees role models that can inspire, motivate and encourage them to aspire for bigger, better and higher things.
After all, if a company is not very “woman-friendly” and unwilling to allow women to climb the corporate ladder and assume heavier responsibilities, it leaves very little reason for female employees to believe they stand a chance of being promoted.

“Women are more likely to be on the fast-track (to promotion) in organizations with at least one female senior leader,” she says.

Tierro allays fears that allowing women to move up in corporate hierarchies will result in a gender war, with men having to fight to keep their traditional favored positions.
She says gender equality “will also benefit men and increase the likelihood of their own advancement.”

“Company culture is so important in (achieving) gender equality,” she says.

A key factor in creating a culture where gender diversity is encouraged and allowed to thrive is “bold leadership”. Gender equality, Tierro says, must be a strategic priority for management and it should be reflected in efforts to narrow the gender gap, including salary disparities between the sexes.

Policies, practices and programs must be created and supported to advance gender equality. While maternity benefits for women are important, to achieve true equality, men should also be encouraged to take paternity leaves so they can be true partners in parenting.

Companies should also allow their employees to be what and who they are. They should not be made to change their appearance and should be free to be creative and innovative. More flexible work schedules should be explored and adopted if necessary and flexible training should be made available “on-demand.”

Tierro says Accenture itself has gone a long way in creating a culture of equality, with women now accounting for 52 percent of its employees.

While many Filipino companies pay lip service to gender equality but continue to hesitate to hire women, concerned about the cost of maternity leaves and work disruption, Accenture has policies and programs to enable women to fulfill multiple roles both in the office and at home, including extended maternity leaves and a private and clean room where women employees who have just given birth can pump breast milk.

Day care services are also available for those who do not have anybody to care for their kids while they are at work.

Tierro says the company believes in diversity “as a source of innovation, creativity and competitive advantage” and needs “people who bring their unique perspectives and skills to the table.” So it takes steps to keep those people, regardless of gender, who contribute to the company’s strength.

Tierro also notes, “I think the dynamics of Filipino families are changing, as families evolve (to adapt) to the times and recognize the importance of having partners and parents (sharing) family responsibilities.” Accenture men employees go on seven-day paternity leaves, as required by law.

Accenture, Tierro says, “is committed to fostering inclusion, advancing diversity and ensuring that every one of our more than 45,000 people in the Philippines feels that (he/she belongs). We believe in a workplace where everyone—regardless of ethnicity, religion, gender, sexual orientation, age or disability—feels equally accepted and valued.”—CONTRIBUTED