Meeting Notes

Meeting Notes is a weekly feature. Here we will dish on tidbits, news, and important things we think Working Girls should know. So scroll down to hear what we think you should glean from this work week.

• According to a survey conducted by the Equality and Human Rights Commissions survey of 44 of the leading companies in the United Kingdom, men working in the finance field in the UK receive up to five times more in bonus payments per year than women. On average, women only receive £2,875 compared to the £14,554 men receive. [via BBC News]

• Married to a corporate executive? Now there are classes for spouses to learn how to make their executive mates successful in their business and be supportive. Collette Young, wife of 20 years to a corporate exec at Dr Pepper Snapple Group, began a company last year called ExecuMate with the the belief that an "engaged spouse can contribute greatly to that success and ultimately to the overall success of the company". [via Associated Press]

• Shoplifting incidents and reports of employees stealing merchandise has rose at retail story by 7.3 percent in 2008. The rise has been contributed to the recent economic problems. [via WWD]

• According to a new study out at the University of South Australia, women between the ages of 18-26 are less likely to buy from a salesgirl they think is more attractive than them. [via Stylelist]