Cracking the glass ceiling – what are the opportunities and challenges for women in a new world of hybrid working?

Hybrid working is powerful, but not if you’re invisible

Hybrid working has brought many opportunities, enabling people to reassess their work-life balance, enjoy more time with their family and reduce the cost of commuting. However, there are also disadvantages to working alone – missing chances to network, promote yourself, be mentored and be inspired by other colleagues and leaders.

The challenge is particularly acute for women, who may not have the same employment support networks as men, and who may have to work even harder to be recognised as having leadership potential. By being absent from the office, they are not first in line for a promotion or an overseas assignment – both of which have the potential to propel their career to greater heights. Women who want to break through the glass ceiling need to think about the benefits of hybrid working, and how to ensure that they remain visible and front of mind to their managers.

A 2022 report An update on flexible and hybrid working practices by The Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development found employees who have flexible working arrangements in their current role are more likely to be satisfied than those who don’t, including in relation to their work–life balance, control over work, their job overall and their line manager. When it comes to the key benefits of shifting to increased homeworking or hybrid working, respondents point to: improved work–life balance (69%), improved employee satisfaction (48%), improved business flexibility and improved employee wellbeing (41%).

International assignments – employee expectations have changed

The EY 2023 Mobility Reimagined Survey shows that mobility within organisations can attract and retain talent, but that many companies fall short of the ideal when offering opportunities to staff.

The survey found that new ways of working — across borders and jurisdictions — have brought greater expectations for workforce flexibility, talent strategy, and technological investment, amid increasingly complex economic, geopolitical and social challenges.

However, leaders need to consider how they mitigate risk in this context and enhance employee experience regardless of assignment location. The survey reveals that workforce mobility programs have powerful strategic and operational importance in the global race for talent. Yet traditional mobility models are often not built for the flexible and hybrid working arrangements that employees demand. In short, the present reality of workforce mobility doesn’t always live up to its potential.

The survey found that 93% of employees agreed an international assignment could be life-changing for themselves and their families. Life-changing experiences are cited as the number one benefit of international experiences. In addition, 90% of employers believe aligning their mobility strategy to organisational goals drive business growth and 78% of employers see a positive return on investment from their mobility program, but perspectives differ across sectors.

Hybrid working can provide opportunities for women to move into senior leadership

A new white paper commissioned by the International Workplace Group (IWG) found that hybrid working has become a powerful enabler for women applying for more senior roles in their business.

Adapting managerial training to support hybrid workers

Companies should ensure equality of opportunity for learning and development and reward and recognition, regardless of where and when people work.

Crucially, it suggests that organisations need to provide training for managers on how to manage hybrid teams effectively and support hybrid workers, including performance management, remote communication, collaboration and relationship-building.

Nearly half of the women questioned were considering a career change that they would not have been able to make previously – and it was the option to work more flexibly that was enabling them to take the leap, the research found. However, there is also an exodus of senior women and this is a potential problem for businesses that seek to remain innovative, productive and profitable in the new world of work.

The researchers also found just one in four C-suite leaders is a woman – while just one in 20 is a woman of colour. “This matters,” explains Fatima Koning Group Chief Commercial Officer, IWGK, “not only on principle, but because diversity in business drives success and helps to establish a healthy company culture.”

Company cultures that look and sound fair may not actually feel fair to female workers, explains Francesca Peters, Chief Talent Officer, IWG. “There can be gaps between appearance and reality. What’s written in your company handbook doesn’t necessarily reflect the experiences of women on the shop floor.”