Women Are More Stressed at Work—But Hybrid Has Helped, Deloitte Says

By Sarah Lynch, Inc. (TNS)

Women are still struggling in the workplace—and not just when it comes to the pay gap.

Half of women say their stress levels have increased from a year ago, according to a recent survey of 5,000 women across 10 countries from Deloitte. Meanwhile, nearly half said they were “concerned or very concerned” about their mental health—one of their top three concerns, along with financial security and their rights.

Why? One factor is an “inability to disconnect from work,” according to the report, as only 37 percent of surveyed women said they could “switch off” from work. Mental health pressures are also particularly pertinent for women bearing the brunt of household responsibilities, who are “far less likely to say they have good mental health than those who do not.”

But some women are also facing physical health challenges at work, like the more than a quarter of women in this survey who experience pain related to “menstruation, menopause, or fertility,” according to the report. “And across each of these challenges, a common theme remains true: Many are working through pain or discomfort.”

Even more, 31 percent of respondents said they’ve experienced microaggressions, and a quarter said that senior leaders at their organizations have made “inappropriate actions or comments toward them.” Transgender women, women with disabilities, and women in underrepresented groups face particular concerns and challenges, according to the report.

But there’s some good news: This year, there’s been a “notable improvement in women’s experiences with hybrid working,” particularly regarding inclusion in meetings, predictability in working patterns, and flexibility.

And yet, some women say that their companies continue to bring workers back into the office, and that’s taking a toll on their mental health, productivity, and personal life arrangements.

Indeed, while recent data shows that return-to-office pushes are losing steam, some companies are still cracking down. And women are already sensing an imbalance: Ninety-five percent of those surveyed believed that “requesting or taking advantage of flexible work opportunities will negatively affect their chances of promotion.” According to another recent report, their suspicions may be correct.

“Despite a small number of improvements since last year, our survey tells us that women are facing mounting pressures in the workplace, their personal lives, and in their communities,” Emma Codd, global chief diversity, equity, and inclusion officer at Deloitte, said in a press release.

Considering these ongoing pressures, it’s clear that the situation “must change,” Codd added, “and employers must enable this.”

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