How Can Organizations Work Better for Working Women? | Deloitte Insights

This new article summarizes key insights from Deloitte’s fourth annual survey on women in the workplace, which collected feedback from approximately 5,000 women across 10 countries regarding their work experiences. Among several insights from the article and the detailed 49-page report, two areas to highlight are: 1) Impact of Return-to-Office (RTO) Policies: These policies have led some women to request reduced hours or relocate. About 26% of women report a negative impact on their mental health due to these policies, and approximately 20% feel less productive when required to be onsite full-time. 2) Importance of Flexible Working: Those planning to stay longer with their companies cite the ability to manage work/life balance as a crucial factor. On flexibility and work/life balance, only 1 in 10 feel they can openly discuss the need for greater work flexibility. Additionally, nearly all women surveyed (95%) believe that requesting or utilizing flexible working opportunities affects their promotion prospects. As a bonus, I am resharing McKinsey’s and LeanIn’s 2023 Women in the Workplace report (published October 2023), which further underscores the importance of flexibility, especially for working mothers —57% of whom state they would leave or reduce work hours without it. Given the increasing enforcement of RTO, these insights suggest that more working mothers might exit the workforce.