Mary Harries’ Post

Women are making significant strides today, yet their mental health is paying a price. A recent Deloitte survey of 5,000 women across ten countries reveals that at least half of them reported higher stress levels than a year ago, with many taking time off due to mental health reasons. These women hold diverse roles, ranging from non-managerial positions to C-suite and board positions. The survey highlights the impact of work hours on mental well-being. Among those working only contracted hours, about half described their mental health as good. However, this figure plummeted to 23% for those who regularly worked extra hours. Additionally, only 37% of women felt they could switch off from work entirely. Companies play a crucial role in supporting women’s mental health. Unfortunately, fewer women reported feeling supported by employers regarding work-life balance issues. Consequently, more women were likely to switch jobs, with 43% expecting to stay with their current employer for just one to two years. Only 29% anticipated staying for three to five years, and a mere 9% planned to remain for more than five years. However, there’s hope. Deloitte identifies “Gender Equality Leaders” as companies that prioritise inclusive cultures and work-life balance. Women at these firms expressed stronger intentions to stay with their employer for over three years (62%) compared to those at “Gender Equality Lagging” firms (13%). Moreover, these leaders significantly outperformed in progressing into senior leadership roles (92% versus 31%). https://lnkd.in/eb3bQ5vh #WomenAtWork #GenderEquality #MentalHealthAtWork

According to Deloitte’s Women @ Work: A Global Outlook report, 1 in 4 women globally do not want a senior leadership role, and they cite company culture as the reason. Fewer women report feeling supported by their employers in balancing work responsibilities with their commitments outside of work. They speak of the following specifics when discussing the factors that go into their decision to pursue leadership positions: ✨Stress and long working hours ✨Household responsibilities ✨Feeling unsafe in the workplace/non-inclusive behaviors ✨Working through pain related to menstruation, menopause or fertility Flexibility and work-life balance are essential for organizations looking to hire, retain, and promote women. When you get the culture right, the results are evident: in organizations known as “Gender Equality Leaders”, 92% of women express interest in pursuing senior leadership positions. https://lnkd.in/g4d_eXpJ

“Despite a small number of improvements since last year, our [Deloitte Women @ Work 2024: A Global Outlook] survey tells us that women are facing mounting pressures in the workplace, their personal lives, and in their communities,” says Emma Codd, Global Chief Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Officer, Deloitte.  Key findings from this report listed below and described in this article https://lnkd.in/gURJK7TQ Half of women say their stress levels have increased since last year, and despite some progress, they are still not receiving adequate mental health support in the workplace Women’s disproportionate share of domestic responsibilities, including a sharp rise in those caring for another adult, is taking a toll on their careers and mental health Nearly half of women are concerned about their personal safety at work or while traveling to or for work Many women who experience challenges related to menstrual disorders, fertility, and even more so for menopause, feel unable to seek support or take time off from work Experiences with hybrid work are improving, but some women say they have made adjustments to their work and personal lives following return-to-office policies “It is widely understood that more diverse organizations perform better, yet most organizations in our study are not making visible progress on their commitments to gender equality,” says Elizabeth Faber, Global Chief People & Purpose Officer, Deloitte. “To create inclusive cultures that enable women’s success at work, organizations should focus on addressing workplace factors that drive stress, reduce stigma and create a culture where women feel able to disclose challenges with their mental and physical health, support efforts to balance work responsibilities with commitments outside of work, and enact policies that empower women’s career progression.” https://lnkd.in/gURJK7TQ

Deloitte's Women @ Work: A Global Outlook survey has found that fewer women report feeling supported by their employers to balance work responsibilities with their commitments outside of work—a trend that is leading some women to switch employers. #Deloitte #Inclusion #Diversity https://lnkd.in/g4Su4r5R

Deloitte's Women @ Work: A Global Outlook survey reveals ongoing challenges faced by women in the workplace, including rising stress levels and mental health concerns. 🔺 Mental health is a top three concern for women globally (48%), falling behind only their financial security (51%) and rights (50%). 🔺 Nearly all women (95%) believe that requesting or taking advantage of flexible work opportunities will negatively affect their chances of promotion and 93% don’t expect that their workload would be adjusted if they moved to a flexible working arrangement. Despite some improvements, the transition to hybrid work models has brought both positive experiences and challenges. The disproportionate burden of household responsibilities borne by women affects their mental health and professional growth. As companies reconsider return-to-office policies, flexibility and work-life balance emerge as crucial factors in retaining women employees. To drive progress towards gender equality, organizations must prioritize mental and physical health support and create inclusive environments where women can thrive personally and professionally. ❇ On a personal note, over the past 6 months, I've been vocal both on LinkedIn and offline about my journey dealing with postpartum mental health challenges. Drafting my first post, I was nervous; I knew it would change how people perceive me going forward. However, I found the courage to share my story thanks to my unapologetically bold nature and the supportive environment provided by my workplace and colleagues at Deloitte. Read the full survey report below. #mentalhealth #mentalhealthawareness #womenatwork #genderequality #inclusionmatters

The data from this year’s Deloitte #womenatwork 2024 survey 📋 provides insight into the challenges that women face both within and outside the workplace (full report in comments) The survey asked 5,000 women 👩🏻👩🏼👩🏽across 10 countries about their views and experiences across the workplace. Below are their findings ⬇️ 1️⃣ Stress and long working hours take a toll on mental health Mental health is among the top concerns for women globally, with an average of 48% of women citing this as their top concern, falling only behind their financial security (51%) and women’s rights (50%). Around half of women do not believe that their employer provides adequate support for their mental health at work. 2️⃣ Menopause and reproductive health are key concerns for women in the workplace but few feel comfortable talking about it in the workplace and work through pain and issues alone 3️⃣ Household responsibilities affect women’s careers Women are feeling the weight of misbalanced caregiving and domestic responsibilities. Notably, 50% of women globally who live with a partner and have children say they take the most responsibility for childcare – up from 46% in 2023, with only 12% saying this falls to their partner. Fewer than half of women feel supported by their employers in balancing their work responsibilities with commitments outside work. Nearly all women (95%) believe that requesting or taking advantage of flexible work opportunities will negatively affect their chances of promotion. 4️⃣ Many women experience threats and non-inclusive behaviours at work Nearly half of the women say they are worried about their personal safety at work or when commuting or travelling. Only one in 10 women think they can make a complaint to their employer about non-inclusive behaviours without affecting their career. 5️⃣ More 'Gender Equality Leaders' are needed Women who work for Gender Equality Leaders report higher levels of loyalty toward their employer and productivity, feel safer, are more comfortable talking about their mental health at work, and can work flexibly without damaging their careers. However, only 6% of women across all countries surveyed work for these organizations—only a one percentage point increase over last year. 💡 Data-driven insight into solutions can include: 💪🏻 recognizing the importance of normalizing conversations around womens health in the workplace 💪🏻 understanding and addressing the causes of workplace stress 💪🏻 embedding family-friendly policies and enabling work/life balance 💪🏻 understanding and addressing women’s workplace safety concerns 💪🏻 addressing non-inclusive behaviours and enabling women to feel able to speak up without concern. #genderequality #womenshealth #femtech #genderequalityleaders #femtechatwork

Deloitte's Women @ Work report reveals the ongoing struggles faced by women in the workforce. Despite progress, half of women say their stress levels have increased since last year, and mental health support remains inadequate. Balancing domestic responsibilities is taking a toll on careers, with many women feeling overwhelmed by the weight of caregiving duties. Additionally, almost half of women are concerned about their personal safety at work, especially underrepresented groups. Women continue to silently navigate health issues like menstruation, menopause, and fertility, fearing backlash on their careers if they speak out. Amid evolving work dynamics, prioritizing flexibility and work-life balance is key to retaining female talent. Although progress has been made, there is still a long way to go until we reach true gender equity. Rutgers Center for Women in Business (CWIB) encourages all to create environments where women feel empowered to thrive professionally and personally. https://lnkd.in/dy4wrT9X

Women are battling new challenges in the workplace, personal lives and in communities ⚠️ That’s according to Women @ Work: A Global Outlook - an annual Deloitte survey of 5,000 women in workplaces - which highlights new mental and physical health issues impacting females 👩🏽👩 As Emma Codd put it, women are “facing mounting pressures” - notably: 🕒 Stress and long working hours damaging mental health 🏠 Bearing the most responsibility for the household 🏥 Working through pain - menstrual disorders, fertility and menopause ⚠️ Personal safety concerns - at work or while traveling 📉 Lack of Gender Equality Leaders For Elizabeth Faber, to create inclusive cultures that enable women’s success at work, organisations should focus on: ✅ Addressing workplace factors that drive stress and reduce stigma ✅ Help women disclose challenges with mental and physical health ✅ Support efforts to balance work responsibilities with outside commitments ✅ Enact policies that empower women’s career progression Full insights here 👉 https://lnkd.in/gfJTzUKB #InspiredKnowledge

To my LI network, this is worth the read, irrespective of your gender. The more we understand each other, the better we can support each other! Thank you, Moxie, for shining a light on the real challenges women face in the workplace and our industry. This piece brings focus to seldom-discussed but very real issues such as "Working through pain - menstrual disorders, fertility, and menopause" and "Personal safety concerns - at work or while travelling." This conversation will only elevate our industry's awareness and understanding of these critical topics. Thank you Moxie Insights for bringing this conversation to to the table and amplifying it.