Plan now for next year's pay rise
Plus: 🎬 Keira Knightly ⏰ morning exercise 💼 LinkedIn skills
If getting paid more is on your agenda for 2025, it’s time to start preparing.
We know that one reason for the gender pay gap could be women’s reluctance to ask for a higher salary. But asking isn’t enough.
It pays to have prepared your case over the last twelve months, writes Bhavana Smith, in our article on how to get a pay rise next year in four steps. Read her tips below.
Welcome back to Take The Lead, the fortnightly newsletter from The Female Lead giving you inspiration, news, insights and hacks to supercharge your life and work.
This issue we’re talking about setting your alarm earlier to exercise (it can be done!), the Chinese feminist film making waves, and why Keira Knightly thinks you can “let it all hang out” in a friendship.
If you’re an employer, we have just launched a comprehensive toolkit showing how to support mothers when they return after maternity leave.
It is based on our From Labour Ward to Labour Force report which found that 47% of unsatisfied mothers will leave their job in the next year.
As always, thank you for your support. Do share your pay rise tips with us in the comments!
The Female Lead Team
We’re talking about…
🎥 Her Story: a comedy movie directed by a woman, and with female leads, is being dubbed “China’s answer to Barbie”. It looks set to be the country’s highest-grossing film of the year and reflects a trend of commercial success for women-focused films.
⚽ Euro 2022: The football tournament helped 129,000 more girls take up the sport in school, figures reveal. There are now more than half a million more opportunities for women and girls to play in the competition’s host cities than there were in 2020.
💸 Pay parity: Two thirds of female-dominated jobs in the UK still have gender pay gaps that favour men, new research has found. Even in fields like office administration, which are 78% female, a 4.7% per cent pay gap persisted.
🪖 Mission possible: Interviews with US military personnel who served in Afghanistan found those in mixed-gender units stressed the benefits of having women on their team. Many men felt missions would have been “jeopardised” without female soldiers.
🏥 Ironing out the problem: Screening US women for iron deficiency could save money, a preliminary study suggested. Women under 50 are up to 20 times more likely to experience it than men, causing brain fog, fatigue, and hair loss.
✍️ Leadership link: Women are less likely to showcase their leadership skills on LinkedIn than men - even if they are already leaders - a study found. Men tend to promote leadership and negotiation, while women focused on support-based skills.
Inspire me…
“Very often in life, you’re either the parent or you’re somebody’s partner, you know, but within a friendship you’re allowed to kind of let it all hang out. And that’s kind of lovely… the rough edges are actually what we love about our friends.“
Keira Knightly, speaking to The Female Lead
How to get a pay rise in 4 steps next year
It’s nearing the end of 2024 and you’re reflecting on the year you had at work.
Beyond surviving another twelve months of emails, Zoom calls and worrying about whether your company is going to call you into the office five days a week, you’re probably also thinking of how you absolutely crushed it: or at least how hard you worked.
Hopefully, your boss will recognise your efforts and put you up for a raise or promotion, right? Maybe you’ve thought that for years in a row, and hope this will be the year it actually happens.
Stop waiting and ask.
Toolbox: Get up 45 minutes early to move your body
From Anna Jenkins, Founder of We Are Fit Attitude
🤔 Why: The idea of setting the alarm 45 minutes earlier than usual to exercise might fill you with dread, and we hear you. Yet women who prioritise themselves by getting a workout done first thing are the ones who find the daily grind a bit easier. Starting the day this way will boost energy, enhance productivity, and be a lifesaver for those long hours and many responsibilities, especially if you spend long hours seated.
🔧 How:
Preparation is key. Lay out your workout clothes the night before, know which workout you’re doing, and have the equipment ready. Put a glass of water by your bed: you will be dehydrated from sleeping. If you haven’t exercised for a while, you might find half a banana a good idea before starting.
Catch up on sleep in advance. Go to bed half an hour earlier: Read a book and let your body head into slumber mode earlier than usual.
Boost your chances. Set the alarm and don’t leave it near the bed, so that you have to get up. Make workout part of your routine: brushing your teeth or drinking a glass of water can be cues to get your workout gear on.
Do a quick full-body routine: Integrate a 30-45 minute workout that can be done at home at least three times a week. Here are some no-equipment options from We Are Fit Attitude.
Consistency: Make this a non-negotiable part of your routine. Consistency helps you build a habit and see long-term benefits.
Keep it going: If you are sitting for long hours, which we know many women are, set reminders to take short movement breaks, such as stretching or walking.
Final thought
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