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It’s well documented that hybrid work increases employee happiness, but when it comes to women, new research shows it also positively impacts their careers.
A new study from International Workplace Group (IWG) indicates that hybrid working arrangements are helping many women rethink and take control of their career objectives.
Titled Advancing Equality: Women in the Hybrid Workplace, the report surveyed more than 1,000 female hybrid workers, finding that roughly half of the respondents said hybrid working arrangements have empowered them to pursue promotions or apply for more senior roles. This rises to 61 per cent for women from minority backgrounds.
Moreover, 66 per cent of all women and 73 per cent of women in minority groups said that hybrid working has allowed them to consider opportunities they will otherwise not have had.
With an increase in personal time due to reduced commutes and the ability to work flexible hours, two in five women said they are now thinking about a career change they will not have considered without hybrid working.
Fatima Koning, group chief commercial officer at IWG, commented that the report’s findings are clear: “Hybrid working stands at the forefront as a transformative force in achieving a more equitable workplace.”
“The latest findings from IWG are a testament to this, revealing a trend where women, particularly from a range of diverse backgrounds, are actively shaping their careers around the flexibility that hybrid working offers,” Koning said.
While much is made of the personal benefits of hybrid working, Koning said that the study is important for revealing how it also has an impact on a person’s career prospects.
“This shift is not only enhancing work/life balance, but also fostering a wealth of new professional opportunities. Having personally experienced the myriad benefits of hybrid working, it’s heartening to witness its role in driving diversity and inclusion, allowing more women to thrive in their chosen fields.”
IWG’s research comes on the heels of a report by Deloitte that found return-to-office mandates are gaining momentum within Australia.
According to Deloitte Access Economics partner and lead author, David Rumbens, the firm is seeing a rise in Australian organisations considering tying remuneration and career advancement opportunities to in-office participation, despite the fact that many employees prize hybrid arrangements so highly that they’ve said they’ll accept a pay cut in exchange for the flexibility.
But in the companies that push forward with mandating increased office participation, the impact – or lack thereof – on business operations is clear.
“Recent research conducted in the United States also found that firms with mandatory return to office plans do not experience notable changes in profitability and productivity, and overall employee satisfaction was shown to decline in these organisations,” Rumbens said.
Such is the draw of hybrid that according to IWG’s research, women are not only feeling empowered by flexible working conditions to hone in on their career objectives, but they’re also prioritising industries where flexibility is more liberally offered.
Two in five (43 per cent) of the respondents said that hybrid working has enabled them to move into their new industry. Women from minority groups particularly reported that this career growth comes from hybrid working enabling them to be more productive and efficient (44 per cent), helping them learn more about other roles at their company (49 per cent) and increasing their visibility with senior leadership (32 per cent).
The gains in inclusivity and diversity do not stop there. Close to nine in 10 of respondents with a mobility disability said that hybrid working has made office-based jobs more viable for them, while 61 per cent agreed that it has made their job more inclusive.
In Australia, another recent report from IWG that did not restrict responses by gender noted that 75 per cent of Aussies said hybrid working helps them save money, 76 per cent said it decreases their stress levels, and 78 per cent said that it increases their happiness.
With retention in the spotlight this year, it’s also worth noting that more than half of Australian workers said they would be likely to resign from their jobs in 2024 if forced to return to the office five days per week.
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Juliet Helmke
Based in Sydney, Juliet Helmke has a broad range of reporting and editorial experience across the areas of business, technology, entertainment and the arts. She was formerly Senior Editor at The New York Observer.
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