"Our economy is best served by managers and business owners who focus on recruiting and rewarding staff who are the most productive. The more that happens, the better it is for business, and the economy as a whole."
Mary Hill, an associate at Tauranga-based law firm Cooney Lees Morgan is quoted, too.
She believes employee remuneration is based on ability and nothing else.
"In my experience people get paid what they are worth and gender is irrelevant," she said.
I think this is rubbish. I know plenty of people who don't get paid what they are worth. This is still Ten Dollar Tauranga.
Maybe we should ask in the next poll what people think. What do you think the vast majority of workers will answer?
In a tight job market, good people will work for peanuts because not working is worse. But is it fair?
My buddy drives trucks. He has all the required licences and more than 20 years' experience.
He goes to work at 3am and finishes around 4pm or later. He works a full week and most Saturdays, too.
He had to fight for a $0.50 pay rise earlier this year and now makes a grand total of $16 an hour.
Another mate is a qualified chef. He accepted a job and works for just over minimum wage as that was the best he could find.
He's working double shifts so he can still make enough money to pay the mortgage.
He just doesn't get to spend much time with his wife and baby.
These people work as hard if not harder than any CEO I know.
They just have less lunch.
Did you know that many contracts nowadays state that remuneration cannot be discussed with colleagues?
I've found that Kiwis are tight-lipped about what they earn.
In my home country it is hardly ever an issue to discuss your hourly rate with others. We are quite open about it.
Then again, it's not common that people there get underpaid either.
The reality is that jobs in the Bay are extremely hard to find and I know plenty of people who are looking.
Some of them have been searching for a while.
One of them is a great woman who has worked at a local accountancy firm for five years as an office organiser.
Unfortunately for her, the company has merged with one of the big guns, leaving her out of a job.
She has until the end of the year to find a new role.
She calls the situation rather dismal, and expects things to become more difficult in November and December as there aren't many companies that will take someone on just before the holidays.
I am talking about an efficient, skilled, experienced and organised lady who works hard and is great at providing exceptional service.
She would be an asset to any team but she cannot find a job.
If you ask me, she is simply too talented to be on the benefit.
A lot of job listings are now online.
With this shift, it seems that many businesses don't even bother to acknowledge receipt of emailed applications any more.
My friend makes a huge effort for each and every application she sends out.
She then waits, and more often than not, she hears nothing.
It's probably due to an overwhelming number of applications, but isn't it true that anyone who contacts you - regardless the reason - is still, at the end of the day a potential customer?
This is a small town, and it isn't a good look for a company if they are perceived as rude by not acknowledging that contact has been made.
Don't forget that bad news travels fast.
