Glass cliffs and glass ceilings in the Department of Conservation

Embargoed until: Publicly released: 2021-12-23 03:00

New Zealand

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Women’s representation and pay-equity are on the rise within lower ranks of the Department of Conservation, but glass ceilings continue to hold women back from senior positions. NZ researchers analysed 32 years of policy changes and corporate restructures within DOC alongside shifts in NZ’s political economy to see how women's participation in the organisation was affected. Periods of time where women made up a greater proportion of the workforce were linked to smaller pay gaps. Researchers also identified several ‘glass cliffs' within DOC’s recent history, noting that women were more likely to be promoted to leadership positions in times of disruption and crisis while men were promoted in times of stability.