the word on the street: how female bosses fare

Mark Oliver asks City workers the burning question - would you want to work for a woman?

Paul Kassman, a City worker with a European bank, said: "As a black person working in the City, I'm sensitive to questions of discrimination and stereo- typing, and a good boss is a good boss.

"I've had female bosses in the past, and women have their idiosyncrasies, but to me it's not an issue."

Brijitte Borrotti, a graphic designer, said: "I do definitely prefer working for a man because they are more direct. You generally know where you stand, as male bosses tend to be far less complex. But everything really depends on how good your relationship with your boss is."

Rob Thomas, a City project manager, said: "It might sound like I'm looking for a promotion, but my boss at the moment is a woman, and she's the best one that I've ever had. She takes a real interest and goes out of her way. But I have had a woman boss who was not as good and was just angling for promotion."

Lorraine Curtis, who is a City project manager, said: "I think it's a cliche that women are worse bosses. If it ever is an issue, I think it depends on how high up the career ladder they are. But I think you have to base your opinion around their individual characteristics. I've had women bosses who have been poor and men bosses who have been poor."

Veronica Webb, another project manager in the City, said: "Bosses who are women do at times have to try a bit harder to keep their station as a manager. At times that can get to be a little extreme. They can be under more pressure and so can be harder to work for than a man."