Washington, Aug 15 (IANS) Rising to the top comes partly from informal networks, not just having friends at the workplace, and it helps if it includes high-status people.
‘We need to look at informal professional structures, not formal ones. These are the real sources of inequality,’ said Gail McGuire, who conducted the study.
McGuire heads the department of Sociology and Anthropology at the Indiana University, South Bend.
McGuire conducted this research because the informal connections people make at work help in the long run because employees exchange important resources with their network ties, according to a statement of the Indiana University.
McGuire studied one of the largest financial services organisations and evaluated its informal network support.
The financial services organisation is a major employer of women, but women tend to be located in lower-status positions.
The men, who are of a minority at this organisation, occupy higher-ranking positions, McGuire said. ‘Since men have higher status positions, they are hoarding and monopolising critical resources,’ McGuire said.
