The IWG report highlights how rigid adherence to office working conditions can limit women in their careers.
The International Workplace Group (IWG), a workplace provider with a presence in 120 countries, including 35 locations in Ireland, has released a report examining how flexible working can positively impact women’s professional lives.
In partnership with Censuswide, the IWG collected data on 2,002 female office workers based in the UK, between January and February this year. What was found is that when organizations give women access to professional workplaces, close to their homes, they experience stronger collaboration, networking and work in return.
Two-thirds of the female contributors were of the opinion that mixed work had a positive effect on them career trajectorywhile also driving high levels of motivation and confidence in the workplace. As they get older, almost 80pc of Millennials and 76pc of GenZ workers say the same.
In addition, 62pc of those who took part in the report explained that they found more opportunities to learn from it women in leadership positionsdue to the availability of hybrid applications. This in turn has led to higher productivity and higher activity levels.
Commenting on the report’s findings, Fatima Koning, CCO of the International Workplace Group, said, “IWG’s latest research shows that when businesses empower women with greater flexibility, they get stronger performance in return, which is a powerful reflection of this year’s International Women’s Day theme, ‘Give to Gain’.
“Not only does it increase productivity and provide work-life balance, but it also strengthens collaboration, builds confidence and increases access to leadership networks, while helping women stay and progress in the workplace. Flexibility is no longer an option; it is essential to harnessing and unlocking women’s talent in the workplace.”
The act of balancing
The IWG report shows that long, daily commutes have the potential to hinder women’s progress in the workplace. Especially if the commute is expensive or time consuming. Almost 70pc of the women who took part in the report said that their travel reduced the time they had for personal life and well-being.
Another 64pc said the commute to and from work each day made it too difficult to balance work expectations with other jobs. A high proportion (67pc) said this often means less time to spend with family.
The disruption to the daily commute was also found to impact on the quality of work for many of the participants, with more than 60pc reporting that they experienced reduced energy and productivity, difficulty staying motivated in the office (56pc) and reduced long-term career prospects (41pc).
This stands at 53pc for those aged between 18 and 24, a group at a critical stage in career development.
Mark Dixon, CEO of the International Workplace Group said, “When employees are able to work closer to home in comfortable and high-quality workplaces, they benefit. more than flexibility. Hybrid working opens the doors to collaboration and career advancement, while reducing the drag of long daily commutes. For female talent, working in a flexible manner is the catalyst for growth.”
My way or the highway
Data from the report also suggested that for many women in the workplace, flexibility has become a non-negotiable aspect of their work. Eight out of ten women say they would not be able to take a job that did not offer mixed goals. The report said, this shows “how companies that do not offer flexibility risks significantly reduce their access to the best and most productive talent.”
Less than 10pc said access to flexible working arrangements had no impact on their decision to accept a future job. Mixed work was also found to create strong loyalty among employees, with 73 percent of women agreeing that they are more likely to stay with a company that allows them to save time commuting by working locally.
More importantly, the availability of unstable working conditions for some women, has enabled them to prioritize their work without neglecting other responsibilities they may have. About two-thirds of donors say that hybrid working has enabled them to stay on the job when they might otherwise have to leave for caregiving duties.
The report said, “By offering flexibility, employers gain continuity, experience and continued participation of employees, all of which are important for improving the country’s productivity. The findings suggest that mixed working creates a beneficial circle; when women are empowered to be flexible and have access to professional workplaces close to home, they find clear ways to move forward with strong business gains, strong collaboration, cooperation and strong productivity.”
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