SAN FRANCISCO (CBS Seattle) – Microsoft’s new CEO is once again wading into the debate over the pay gap between men and women in the tech industry, claiming that no pay gap exists at the company he runs.
Earlier this month, Satya Nadella drew criticism when he suggested it was up to women to demand equal pay.
Speaking at the Grace Hopper Celebration of Women in Computing in Phoenix, he stated women should have “faith that the system will actually give you the right raises as you go along.”
His comments came on the heels of a study that found there are significantly fewer women working for high tech companies and that they are paid much less than their male counterparts.
He later apologized, but the subject came up again Wednesday at an event intended to promote Microsoft’s new Azure cloud services.
After his scripted remarks, there was a Q&A session, and people took the opportunity to press Nadella on the subject once again.
“I was insensitive to the broader context,” Nadella replied to one question. But he insisted men and women are paid the same at Microsoft. there was no pay gap at the company he runs. “It turns out that we are in good shape on that, but that doesn’t really capture the essence…and that is equal opportunity.”
Women make up 29 percent of Microsoft’s workforce, with only 17 percent working directly in technology, reports CNet.
Nadella, who is earning $84 million as the tech giant’s chief executive, acknowledged there is an industry-wide problem.
“We have a lot more to do,” Nadella added, “How do we get women to come back after they’ve taken a break?”
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