Highland Product Inc. - Women Employee Issue

Dear Raymond Kirk,

Women from Highland Product Inc. (HPI) have been victims of misogyny, which is a huge obstacle for women who wish to have a successful career. Susan Lesley’s audacious letter has shown numerous discrimination activities that are practiced in HPI. Thus, like she stated: “I am a woman who will take no more of this.” Some of major gender discrimination issues include:

1. HPI’s culture is imbued by misogyny idea

2. There are ZERO women in any managerial positions

3. Education requirements are set differently based on gender

4. Double standard for men and women in the process of recruiting, right, pay, and promotion opportunities

5. Salaries are reduced when a woman takes over a man's position

6. Women who questioned the system are threaten to lose their jobs

In 2010, an automobile service company, Les Schwab, was fined $2 million in result of gender discrimination. I urged HPI to make major strategic actions to prevent to this your company. The first and most important matter is to influence how your workers view women. I have 4 main recommendations for HPI to create an equal working environment for women.

A. Educate male employees all gender is capable of producing same level of performance

B. Recruit and promote women to supervision and managerial positions, include women’s insight when making major strategic plans and recruiting employees.

C. When a position is open, the selection criteria should be elevated on knowledge, skills, and ability, regardless of gender.

D. Create an internal association, “Women in HPI”, that allow women’s voice to be heard.

I strongly recommend HPI to confer Susan Lesley to be the leader of “Women in HPI.” The effort she put into the letter show her frustration with HPI, which also shows she actually cares about her female colleagues and wanting to make a difference. Why not confer her a leadership position that can unite the voices of women in HPI. A chance for management to see understand how are women treated and their personal stories. I believe honest communication in gender equality and delivering that message to other employees will only benefit that company as a whole. It is the reality that men is still and will continue to be the dominant group. Therefore, to achieve gender equality, women in HPI need the support from men to change this discriminatory culture. I know that you, Mr. Kirk, also agree with the issues that Susan has state in her letter. Would you be willing to be to the liaison with “Women in HPI” and HPI management to push this process forward?

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