The latest IBM Institute for Business Value study has revealed that gender equity is still ‘not a top priority’ for 70% of global companies, despite heightened awareness of the challenges facing women in the workplace driven by the Covid-19 pandemic.
The global study also indicates that employees surveyed feel fatigue and waning optimism over ineffective programmatic efforts to address gender equity. Only 62% of women surveyed (down 9 percentage points from 2019) and 60% of men surveyed (down 7 percentage points from 2019) expect their organisation will significantly improve gender parity over the next five years.
The study, which follows similar research published in 2019, also shows that gender equity may be at a crossroads, with the leadership pipeline for women shrinking. Entitled Women, leadership, and missed opportunities, the study reveals that fewer women hold senior vice president, vice president, director and manager roles in 2021 than they did in 2019.
“The data show that many women leaders are experiencing challenges at this moment. If these issues are not addressed more deeply than in prior years, there is a risk of progress backsliding further,” stated Bridget van Kralingen, Senior Vice President, Global Markets at IBM; and Senior Executive sponsor of the IBM Women’s Community. “We should seize creative solutions now and redouble our efforts to make meaningful, lasting change that can help all women reach their full potential.”
‘FIRST MOVER’ ADVANTAGE
According to the study, more organisations are instituting more programmes to help improve gender equity and inclusion compared to 2019, such as gender-blind job screenings and parental leave for women. However, the study suggests that more programmes don’t always translate into more progress. They don’t always result in better outcomes in part because mindsets and cultures have not changed enough alongside the programmes.
Compared to 2019, for example, fewer organisations agreed that senior executives openly challenge gender-biased behaviours and language. The study identified a group of survey respondents (11%) referred to as First Movers, who designate the advancement of women as a formal business priority; and they view gender-inclusivity as a driver of financial performance and highly motivated to take action. First Movers self-reported stronger financial performance – as much as a 61% higher mean rate of revenue growth compared to the mean reported by other organisations in our study – as well as stronger innovation and stronger customer and employee satisfaction.
ROADMAP FOR PROGRESS
Bold action, however, can help reverse the shrinking leadership pipeline, according to the study. The report shares actions that can help drive bold and sustainable change in business; and provides learnings from companies who rank gender inclusivity as a top business priority. According to the study, there are specific, bold steps organisations can take, following the example of First Movers, to help accelerate progress in gender equity in the workplace. They include:
Pair bold thinking with big commitments.
Make gender equity a top five formal business priority, and create pathways for women to re-enter the workforce. For example, IBM offers a six-month paid ‘returnship’ for technical professionals who have been out of the workforce for 12 months. It provides training, access to tools and technology, mentorship and work assignments on technical projects that are matched to their expertise.
Apply specific crisis-related interventions.
Additional benefits like backup childcare support and access to mental health resources can be key. Another recent IBV research found that the best performing CEOs say they are committed to supporting the wellbeing of their employees; even at the cost of profitability or budget, as reported.
Create a culture of intention, and insist on making room.
Focus on empathetic leadership and enabling middle managers to be advocates for positive cultural change. People leaders can intentionally champion inclusive team cultures, with flexibility aligned to individuals’ personal and professional needs, and set accountability into business and individual goals to sponsor the future pipeline of women leaders.
Use technology to accelerate performance.
Organisations can use technologies like AI to help reduce bias in the candidate screening process, provide cloud-based digital tools for communication and feedback to surface what’s working and what’s not in supporting women in the workplace, and invest in collaborative tools and teaming practices that allow women and men to engage effectively in physical and remote environments even after the pandemic abates.
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