Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella continues to be at the center of attention following his remarks at a women's tech conference saying women should "trust the system" and that they would get raises when they deserved them.
Nadella has since apologized for his remarks, although they did raise a number of ongoing concerns about gender pay equality in the tech industry and in general.
"It's not really about asking for a raise, but knowing and having faith that the system will give you the right raise," said Nadella at the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing. "And I think that might be one of the initial super powers that, quite frankly, women don't ask for a raise have. Because that's good karma. It will come back."
At face value it is clear that these remarks do not line up with the modern world and what gender equality in the workplace should look like. Many have come out and said that women who believe that they deserve a raise should simply ask for one. In fact, even Nadella himself has said as much.
"I 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," said Nadella in a statement. "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, Maria's advice was the right advice. If you think you deserve a raise, you should just ask."
The issue has raised a number of questions about gender equality and the gender pay gap in the workplace. On average, women are still only paid 78 cents to every dollar that a man makes for full-time work.
"Whether it's a man or a woman, if they're performing well and they deserve it, they should get a raise. Women themselves have to step up and say, 'I think I deserve that,' " said Reena Gupta, CEO of Avankia, an IT consulting company.
Some are even suggesting that Nadella making those statements was a good thing because it highlighted the fact that there is still an inequality in the workplace that needs to be addressed, and because of the resulting discussion about pay and gender inequities.
The tech industry has been under the microscope of late because of the lack of diversity in Silicon Valley. Microsoft itself announced that globally its workforce was made up of 20 percent women and those in tech roles only made up 17.1 percent of the entire staff.
