More than a third of women have said they feel frustrated at having had to sacrifice their salary and career progression so they can ensure the right work-life balance in bringing up a family.
A survey of 2,000 working women across the UK found that 40% felt a lack of flexible working options had been the biggest career challenge they faced.
The research, for the women in business expo, revealed that almost half (42%) of women know someone who has had to give up their job due to a lack of flexible working options.
It showed that 39% of women in employment feel frustrated about having to sacrifice salary and moving up the career ladder in order to ensure the right work-life balance in raising a family.
A fifth of women surveyed said they would have to take parental leave even though they earn more than their partner, and 38% called for greater support for paternity leave in the workplace.
More than half of people asked (55%) said the creation of more flexible roles would have one of the most positive impacts in the workplace.
Christie Day, group event director for the women in business expo, said: “There’s been huge strides in workplace gender equality in the last couple of decades, but this research has shown there is still a long way to go before we achieve total gender parity.
“A quarter of women (25%) still have issues with a gender pay gap in their workplace, and 16% still experience everyday sexism. This is simply not good enough. Businesses leaders need to start taking greater responsibility for ensuring equality in the workplace beyond what is mandated by the government.
“Offering flexible working, for example, would not only benefit female employees with children but is something everyone would value.”
Speakers at the expo – dedicated to supporting women in business – at Farnborough International Conference and Exhibition Centre in Hampshire on October 16 and 17 are due to include businesswoman and TV star Baroness Karren Brady and entrepreneur Lady Michelle Mone.
The survey results come a few days after the Department for Work and Pensions launched a new flexible job search aimed at making it “easier than ever before for parents to find work”.
The site – https://findajob.dwp.gov.uk/search?q=flexible&w= – features thousands of job adverts, all designed with flexible working in mind.
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