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Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella Manish Swarup/AP/Press Association Images

Women shouldn't ask for pay rises, they should 'have faith': Microsoft boss

But the CEO’s comments didn’t go down so well…

WOMEN WORKING FOR tech companies who want pay raises should keep quiet and have faith that “the system” will deliver the wages they deserve, the boss of Microsoft has said.

Satya Nadella, the $385 billion (€303 billion) software giant’s recently-appointed chief executive, told a Phoenix conference for women in computing that not asking for pay rises was “good karma” that would “come back”.

“It’s not really about asking for the raise, but knowing and having faith that the system will actually give you the right raises as you go along,” he said.

“That might be one of the initial ‘super powers,’ that … women who don’t ask for a raise have.”

Nadella had been asked to give advice to any women who were uncomfortable asking for more money from their employers.

Sorry about that

But the Indian-born executive quickly retreated from his comments after a public backlash, apologising to the company’s staff and via Twitter after making the comments.

In an email to employees, he admitted he “answered that question completely wrong”.

“Without a doubt I wholeheartedly support programs at Microsoft and in the industry that bring more women into technology and close the pay gap,” he said.

I believe men and women should get equal pay for equal work. And when it comes to career advice on getting a raise when you think it’s deserved, (the conference host’s) advice was the right advice. If you think you deserve a raise, you should just ask.”

A shrinking gap

A survey last year from US tech careers site Dice found the pay gap between men and women in the industry had largely “disappeared” – although male workers were still paid nearly 10% more on average.

It said the difference was driven by men and women taking on different jobs, and a larger share of the females surveyed were happy with their incomes – despite getting less.

But earlier studies have found women were massively under-represented in the highest-paying jobs, with about 30% of IT companies reporting they had no women working in management.

READ: More staff shown the door at Microsoft, though Irish workers should be safe

READ: Gender pay gap in Ireland still ‘unacceptably’ wide

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28 Comments
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    Mute Nyal Maku
    Favourite Nyal Maku
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    Nov 15th 2015, 10:40 AM

    This woman is a design icon and a national treasure, she produced a vast body of work across many design disciplines. The exhibition dedicated to her in the museum in Collins barracks is really worth viewing (it’s free too!).

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    Mute Mick Torrans
    Favourite Mick Torrans
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    Nov 15th 2015, 10:46 AM

    Acknowledgement of her contribution to modernism, and design in general, is long over due but at least it has begun after decades. Fair play to Dr.Goff for all her work. My own LEGO tribute to E1027 sits proudly above the fireplace! https://instagram.com/p/60lMUOTHxg/

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    Mute Coles
    Favourite Coles
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    Nov 15th 2015, 9:29 PM

    What? You’ve obviously just heard about her. Her work has been celebrated for generations.

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    Mute Inanimate Carbon Rod
    Favourite Inanimate Carbon Rod
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    Nov 15th 2015, 12:03 PM

    Love Eileen Grey, she was 50 years ahead of her time. Some day I wanna buy one of her Bibbendum chairs, they look really comfy

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    Mute Jonathan Eastwood
    Favourite Jonathan Eastwood
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    Nov 15th 2015, 1:56 PM

    I seem to remember reading an article about one of her chairs selling for millions at auction. So obviously her work is still very relevant and beautiful to many people.

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    Mute Pete Gibson
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    Nov 15th 2015, 11:08 AM

    Dated arts-rubbish from a bye-gone age.
    There is a reason the arts cult of modernism is forgotten.
    It was boring rubbish.
    That tiger skin on the floor was supposed to be Chic.
    Nobody would design such horrible houses or interiors like that nowadays.
    (Dublin developers and designers just might do though.)

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    Mute Alesis
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    Nov 15th 2015, 2:24 PM

    Art deco stuff is still sought after. That chair above looks totally useless, but that’s often the point. betcha someone would pay a pretty penny for it.

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    Mute Anton Dec
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    Nov 15th 2015, 9:52 PM

    You’re a silly little person aren’t you?

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    Mute Michael Sands
    Favourite Michael Sands
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    Nov 15th 2015, 2:30 PM

    Because… She was a woman?

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    Mute Anthony Halpin
    Favourite Anthony Halpin
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    Nov 16th 2015, 2:26 PM

    Ireland has a long tradition of ignoring it’s own talent, an inferiority complex borne of ignorance which continues to this day. Both AIB and Aer Lingus went outside of Ireland for the design of their logos. If you want money from the Arts Council, a non – Irish sounding name is a huge advantage (along with no talent, most of the time) This in a country which has a rich artistic heritage going back thousands of years (Book of Kells / Durrow etc.)

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