Deloitte's Women @ Work Report Reveals Signs of Progress, But Much Work Remains

Now in its third year, Deloitte's Women @ Work: A Global Outlook, a survey of 5,000 women across 10 countries, finds some signs of progress for women in the workplace: during the survey period, rates of burnout dropped, non-inclusive behaviors declined and hybrid work experiences improved. But these issues are still a challenge for many, and other factors have worsened since last year. There has been a significant decline in the number of respondents who feel comfortable talking about mental health in the workplace. Fewer women feel they get adequate mental health support from their employer. More women feel unable to switch off from work, even as they bear the greatest responsibility for household tasks. And a lack of flexibility at work is driving career decisions—more women worldwide have left their jobs in the past 12 months than in 2021 and 2020 combined, and lack of flexibility is among the top reasons cited.

• This year's report shows glimpses of improvement. While still areas for significant concern, rates of burnout dropped, fewer experienced non-inclusive behaviors, and women are reporting more positive experiences with hybrid work over the past year
• Women continue to feel uncomfortable talking about mental and personal health challenges in the workplace, with many struggling with menstruation and menopause symptoms in silence
• Many working women bear the greater responsibility for domestic tasks and feel they need to prioritize their partner's careers over their own
• More women worldwide left their jobs in the last 12 months than in 2021 and 2020 combined, citing a lack of flexibility among the top reasons

New to the report this year, the research also explores how women's health issues impact their working lives. One in five women report experiencing health challenges related to menstruation or menopause. Many say they work through the pain and discomfort, at least in part due to a persistent stigma around these topics.

"While our research shows some glimpses of improvement for women in the workplace over the past year, it also illuminates the work that remains," says Emma Codd, Deloitte Global Inclusion Leader. "We're seeing a worsening picture when it comes to critical workplace aspects, such as mental health support. And the vast majority of respondents do not believe that their employer is taking concrete steps to deliver on its commitments to gender equality. Employers need to go beyond setting goals and policies and consistently foster a more inclusive and respectful work environment where all women are able to succeed."

Flexibility underpins career choices while hybrid experiences improve— for some