Did you know that companies that offer flexible work and training opportunities have four times as many female CEOs as companies that don’t?1 Research also indicates that companies that offer flexible work and training opportunities are better at retaining talent and allowing female employees to be productive and successful and to flourish.2
Around 43% of women quit their jobs when they have children (regardless of their industry or occupation) because they aren’t offered appropriate childcare options or working hours and are no longer able to continue their commute to and from work on a daily basis—and because it’s what society seems to expect.2 But flexible work and training options seem to offer a real opportunity for change.
How Flex Work and Training Will Help End Gender Inequality in the Workplace
According to Claudia Goldin in the Department of Economics at Harvard University,
“The gender gap in pay would be considerably reduced and might even vanish if firms did not have an incentive to disproportionately reward individuals who worked long hours and who worked particular hours.”
Goldin offers substantial evidence to suggest that flexible working hours and conditions will lead to a more level playing field and pay for women, as career advancements and development opportunities will not only be offered to those who are in the office for extended hours and during the most appropriate hours when they’ll get noticed.
And when women can engage with remote training opportunities more often, they are also able to enhance their skills faster and more efficiently, too.
Flex Work and Training Will Equally Distribute Home/Life Responsibilities
Women are not the only ones who benefit from flexible work and training opportunities—so do men. When men are offered more flexible working options, they are also able to take part in spending more time with their children and will be able to be at home without sacrificing their career trajectories and opportunities. Both men and women will be able to equally share in personal and career-oriented goals and obligations. And this will level the socially constructed playing field of being successful in the workplace because both women and men will become responsible for their personal responsibilities and career trajectories.
Flexible Opportunities Provide Better Access to Learning and Development and Career Opportunities
Overall, when women can pursue their learning and development on their own flexible terms, they gain access to so many more opportunities for career growth and leadership—and so do men. Instead of constantly being tied to an office location or specific hours, individuals across organizations and genders will be able to hone their skills at their convenience and will. Flexible training for flexible work is also where the future lies for most individuals throughout the entire workforce, as research indicates.1
Ultimately, the reason why flexible work and training will help end gender inequality in the workforce is because it offers tangible benefits to everyone.
- “6 Key Stats About Remote and Flexible Work in 2017, and 2 Predictions.” Accessed 4/5/2018.
- Fast Company. “How Remote Workplaces Benefit Women.” Accessed 4/5/2018.