Deloitte Survey on Women at Work Finds Continued Issues with Flexibility

The third release of Deloitte’s Women @ Work: A Global Outlook survey of 5,000 women across 10 countries found that while the hybrid work experience for women has improved, more women left their jobs in the last 12 months than in 2021 and 2020 combined. While the report found a high correlation between flexibility and employer loyalty, 97% of women believe taking advantage of flexible policies would affect their likelihood of promotion.

Flexibility remains a major concern for women in the workplace. Less than a quarter of the women surveyed reported a high degree of flexibility over where and when they work and lack of flexibility around working hours was one of the top three reasons women left their employer in the past year. Despite flexibility being a high indicator of employer loyalty, women still do not report feeling comfortable taking advantage of these policies out of concern it will hamper their career growth. 

Many women do not believe they receive adequate mental health support from their employer. Despite efforts to reduce the stigma around mental health in the workplace, and general reduction in burnout rates, only a quarter of women reported feeling comfortable talking about mental health in the workplace. In addition to feeling as though they cannot “switch off” from work, women continue to bear the majority of household responsibilities while broader social and political issues are also impacting their wellbeing. 

Gender equity and women’s rights are top concerns for women, followed by financial security, physical and mental health, and personal safety. Deloitte has identified a group of “Gender Equity Leaders,” organizations that have created genuinely inclusive cultures to support work/life balance, career growth, and inclusion. Women that work for these organizations report feeling more connected to their employer, more motivated and productive at work, and are more likely to feel high levels of support.