Deloitte study offers actionable insights on state of women at work

Here are some key takeaways from the fourth-annual Deloitte Women at Work study.

What you probably already know: The report includes perspectives from 5,000 women in 10 countries, and delves into issues of mental health, workplace support, equity and inclusivity, domestic life, and safety.

What it found: 

• Half of the women surveyed said their stress levels were higher than a year ago, and two-thirds said they don’t feel comfortable using mental health as an excuse to take time off.

• Physical health is also an issue, with 40% of women who experience pain from menstruation, menopause or fertility do not take time off to deal with it.

• Half of women with families bear the most responsibility for childcare, an increase over last year, and nearly 60% of women who care for another adult (like a parent) are taking the lead on that, too. This has given rise to the somewhat overused term “sandwich generation” — people with children still on the payroll who are also caring for aging parents.

• Just over 30% of respondents said their right to earn an equal wage has deteriorated in the last year.

• Concerns about climate change and the political situation inside and outside of their respective countries is on the rise.

Actionable insights for leaders:

• Equitable flexibility: A staggering 95% of women surveyed said that taking advantage of flexible working opportunities would harm their ability to get ahead or receive a promotion. Around 33% said that they’re left out of meetings due to hybrid or flexible work environments.

• Workplace safety: About half of the respondents said they feel unsafe at work or during their commute. Many have been harassed inside and on the way to the office and 43% say they experienced harassment or microaggressions at work in the last year. A third of women who were sexually harassed did not report it.

• Visible progress: Only 10% of respondents said their company was taking the right steps to improve gender equity, and 35% said they wouldn’t recommend their employer to other women. Communication, clear goals and transparency can help combat this.