What do women want at work?

What’s the #1 thing women want at work? 

A recent study asked what women leaders really want at work. While flexible work arrangements and paid family leave are critical for retention, they are now “table stakes” and ultimately aren’t enough for women to truly succeed. So what do the majority of female leaders want? To be VALUED! Right now, there’s a huge disconnect between what employers think female employees want and what they actually want. So what can employers do to ensure they’re truly listening to and supporting their female workforce?

• Create an accessible work environment where all employees feel comfortable communicating their unique needs. In many cases, employers are simply unaware of the ways in which an employee’s identity is impacting their work experiences. Create an open-door culture where employees can communicate their concerns.

• Proactively learn about the needs of your female employees by asking questions, rather than assuming what initiatives are best. By conducting employee focus groups, surveys, and roundtables, employers can get a sense of the unique challenges each employee is facing.

• Give employees the space and time to express their input. This gives managers, directors, HR, and executive teams a chance to analyze how the organization meets those needs and what else can be done to help employees thrive, even in the most difficult times.