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INDUSTRY NEWS


6 May 2008

Companies 'must deliver on flexible working'


Now that they have the technological means to deliver remote and mobile working solutions, firms must follow through on the promise if they are to encourage female professionals into the industry.

That is according to the British Computer Society's (BCS) Women's Forum, which said that there are inherent barriers within the IT industry stopping women from progressing.

Jan Peters, manager of the BCS Women's Forum, explained that many companies now have remote and flexible working policies in place, but that managers are struggling to put them into practice.

"I think there are barriers from stopping women progressing. Quite often, once you get into your thirties, family responsibilities come along and although companies have flexible working policies in place, quite often it is down to the discretion of the line manager to make it work," she said.

"Project planning and management should allow people to deliver tasks within a defined timescale. It is all very well trying to attract women to your company by advertising flexible working, but when it comes down to it, it isn't that easy and they make you feel uncomfortable."

According to 2004 figures from the BCS, women make up only 14 per cent of the society's membership, a percentage that is likely to be reflected in the overall number of women in the IT sector.<br/>

© 2006 Adfero Ltd.

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