Southern Jewelry News
  • Featured
    • All
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Sponsored Content
    • Supplier Spotlight
    Jewelers Helping the World See
    Little’s Jewelers: Three’s the Charm
    Gittelson Jewelers: Diamonds on the Skyway in Minneapolis
    New IDD LUXE debuts “intelligently-designed” upscale diamond bridal & fashion collection
  • Latest News
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Furry Friends
    • Industry Awards
    • Industry Events
    • NRF
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Tradeshow News
    • Video
    • What's New
    ASHI launches 2023 Bridal Sweepstakes
    Sunstone announces Permanent Jewelry Expo
    Platinum Guild International launches new information portal on Responsible Platinum
    Sissy’s Log Cabin unveils exclusive Memphis Grizzlies jewelry collection
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
    Ten things you can do to raise the level of your customer service
    Is the customer always right?
    Successful Custom: Sizing up your ring mandrel
    Jewelry marketing lessons for growth in 2023
    Jeweler’s Insurance: The wrong time to ask the right questions!
    From Bland to Bold: How humor can transform your jewelry advertising
    Oooh… It’s a Tiara! The Top 6 All Time Best
    Image of Chuck Koehler
    And here they come
    International School of Gemology Education Series: The Story of Opal
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Southern Jewelry News
  • Featured
    • All
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Sponsored Content
    • Supplier Spotlight
    Jewelers Helping the World See
    Little’s Jewelers: Three’s the Charm
    Gittelson Jewelers: Diamonds on the Skyway in Minneapolis
    New IDD LUXE debuts “intelligently-designed” upscale diamond bridal & fashion collection
  • Latest News
    • All
    • COVID-19
    • Furry Friends
    • Industry Awards
    • Industry Events
    • NRF
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Tradeshow News
    • Video
    • What's New
    ASHI launches 2023 Bridal Sweepstakes
    Sunstone announces Permanent Jewelry Expo
    Platinum Guild International launches new information portal on Responsible Platinum
    Sissy’s Log Cabin unveils exclusive Memphis Grizzlies jewelry collection
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
    Ten things you can do to raise the level of your customer service
    Is the customer always right?
    Successful Custom: Sizing up your ring mandrel
    Jewelry marketing lessons for growth in 2023
    Jeweler’s Insurance: The wrong time to ask the right questions!
    From Bland to Bold: How humor can transform your jewelry advertising
    Oooh… It’s a Tiara! The Top 6 All Time Best
    Image of Chuck Koehler
    And here they come
    International School of Gemology Education Series: The Story of Opal
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription
No Result
View All Result
Southern Jewelry News
No Result
View All Result
Home Latest News Other News

WJA releases results of Gender Equality Survey

May 1, 2019
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter
Reading Time: 7 minutes

Focuses on workplace issues where gender could be a factor

The Women’s Jewelry Association’s Gender Equality Project released the results of its first survey, which asked members of the gem, jewelry and watch industries to comment on workplace practices where gender could be a factor.

WJA coverWJA engaged MVI Marketing, a trade and consumer research company that works exclusively for the gem, jewelry and watch industries, to assist in designing a questionnaire intended to gather the most useful information on this topic. MVI conducted the survey in fall 2018, and ensured confidentiality for survey participants. It also designed the survey so that there were two sets of questions – one for owners and one for employees.

“The goal of the survey results is to help WJA better understand the most pressing gender-related issues people in the industry encountered, so we can create programming and initiatives tailored to those issues,” says WJA Executive Director Bernadette Mack.

The survey results show overall that employees and owners report widely differing awareness regarding nearly every gender-related workplace topic, indicating the need for education and support for both groups. As well, employees are likely to think gender topics “extremely important” more often than employers do. Exacerbating the problem for employers is that many employees are reluctant to report occurrences of gender discrimination to their bosses because they fear a negative impact on their jobs – or other retaliation.

To address these results, WJA has several projects already underway and will initiate others.

  • The survey indicates an overall lack of understanding about employment policies that cover gender-related workplace issues. As a result, WJA will provide increased and improved training and materials to employers and employees alike. (Note: WJA has already provided seminars at trade events and an online webinar detailing the various laws and regulations governing gender discrimination, in partnership with the Jewelers Vigilance Committee.)
  • Employees at smaller companies are far less likely than employees at large companies to understand gender-related company policies – 92% of employees in companies with over 1000 workers know their company’s policies, while only 48% of employees in companies with 1-5 workers know them. Thus, WJA will particularly focus on providing education and support to small businesses owners and employees.
  • Of the total employee respondents, 30% report they have been deprived of equal opportunities for advancement; and 38% say they have been affected by pay disparity. To counteract this problem, WJA will provide training on negotiation and self-advocacy skills.
  • Employees surveyed also do not feel comfortable reporting occurrences of gender-based workplace issues more than 50% of the time – most often due to concerns about how such reports will impact their employment and/or a fear of retaliation. As indicated above, WJA will offer employees training on self-advocacy skills. WJA will also explore with owners how to communicate to employees that they can report problems without risk of losing their jobs or retaliation.
  • Nearly half of employees responding to the survey say they have witnessed discrimination or harassment in the workplace. As a result, WJA will offer bystander training in the future, which involves teaching witnesses how to recognize, intervene, and help victims to report and seek support.

The survey was deployed world-wide and 586 individuals participated – 98% from the U.S. Of the respondents, 240 are employees and 346 are owners/executives/board members/major shareholders (called owners throughout the survey results). Two thirds of owners and 91% of employees who responded are women. A majority of both groups are industry veterans (10+ years) and a large number are over 50 (69% of owners; 42% of employees). Among owners, 93% manage companies with 15 or fewer workers. Retail is the largest specific industry sector that responded (45% of owners; 33% of employees).

The association received a JCK Industry Fund grant that helped underwrite the cost of the WJA Gender Equality Survey, its seminars/webinars, and enhancements to its existing mentorship program. The grant will also assist the association in offering skills training in workplace negotiation.

“We are developing gender-equality-focused tools and programs that will contribute to the future overall health and image of the industry,” says WJA President Jenny Luker. “The work we’re spearheading is educating business owners and executives about the importance of maintaining a bias-free work environment.”

WJA

Gender Equality: Different Perspectives

Here are specific topics where gender discrimination awareness diverged between employees and owners in WJA’s gender equality survey:

  • 49% of employees report they have witnessed or are aware of gender-based discrimination; vs. 7% of owners.
  • 30% of employees say they are deprived of equal opportunity for advancement due to gender-related issues, but only 2% of owners report they have received complaints.
  • 50% of employees report being subject to a gender-related hostile work environment (including at trade shows), but only 9% of owners report they have received complaints.
  • 38% of participating employees say that they have been affected by gender-related pay disparity, but only 2% of owners say they have received complaints.
  • 23% of employees say they’ve experienced sexual harassment, but only 5% of owners report receiving complaints.
  • 16% of employees say they have been victims of unwanted sexual advances; but only 3% of employers have received complaints.

The full survey is available on the Women’s Jewelry Association website – CLICK HERE

About the Women’s Jewelry Association

The Women’s Jewelry Association mission is to help women in the jewelry and watch industries advance and develop professionally through networking, education, leadership development and the provision of member services. For more information, visit www.womensjewelryassociation.com.

 

 

Related Posts

ASHI launches 2023 Bridal Sweepstakes

January 25, 2023

Sissy’s Log Cabin unveils exclusive Memphis Grizzlies jewelry collection

January 25, 2023

Quality Gold, Inc. announces acquisition of HERCO Jewelry Company

January 23, 2023

ASHI announces winner of 2022 Holiday Sweepstakes

January 23, 2023

Latest News

Other News

ASHI launches 2023 Bridal Sweepstakes

January 25, 2023
Industry Events

Sunstone announces Permanent Jewelry Expo

January 25, 2023
Columnists

Ten things you can do to raise the level of your customer service

January 25, 2023

Other News

Platinum Guild International launches new information portal on Responsible Platinum

Sissy’s Log Cabin unveils exclusive Memphis Grizzlies jewelry collection

GN Diamond helps jewelers sell more diamonds with free in-store selling tool

Quality Gold, Inc. announces acquisition of HERCO Jewelry Company

Successful Custom: Sizing up your ring mandrel

ASHI announces winner of 2022 Holiday Sweepstakes

Southern Jewelry News

© 2022 Southern Jewelry News.

Additional Information

  • About
  • 2023 Trade Shows
  • Media Kit
  • Contact
  • Sitemap
  • Newsletter Signup

Get Social with Us

No Result
View All Result
  • Featured Articles
    • Featured
    • Featured Retailers
    • Retailer Roundtable
    • Supplier Spotlight
    • Sponsored Content
  • Latest News
    • What’s New
    • Industry Events
    • Tradeshow News
    • On The Move
    • Other News
    • Furry Friends
  • Podcast
  • Columnists
  • Classifieds
  • Subscriptions
    • Newsletter Signup
    • Print Subscription

© 2022 Southern Jewelry News.