Women are less comfortable at work than their male colleagues, when it comes to employee experience.
A global survey of 11,000 deskless employees has found that study included retail, logistics, and hospitality sectors.
The workforce management firm Quinyx’s research looked into women’s overall happiness with their work environment. It investigated their level of comfort when speaking to bosses on issues such as pay, and whether they have gone to work sick because they are not able to afford time off.
Quinyx chief HR officer Toma Pagojute said: “An employee’s overall experience is made up of numerous parts, and if women’s experiences are consistently falling short across the board, then we need to ask why.”
Women find it harder to talk about pay rises and promotions with their managers
The UK findings showed that 27 percent of female workers are comfortable discussing pay rises or wage disparities with their managers, compared to 40 percent of the men polled.
Additionally, women are less likely than male workers to have received help with career growth from their managers – it’s far worse in the hospitality, transportation, and warehousing sectors.
Addressing business owners, Ms. Pagojute said: “We have a unique window now to re-set and create a sea change that can empower all workers, particularly women, who continue to feel the effects of long-term inequalities.”
Over 60 percent of female deskless workers have considered quitting their job because they’re unhappy with their work environment compared to half of the men surveyed.
The UK findings also revealed that women are more likely to feel pressured by co-workers into taking shifts they don’t want to take.
When it comes to strategy and operations, businesses need to put people first
The report features advice for businesses looking to make some changes and improve the situation for their own workforce.
It suggests that managers lead by example, considering employee engagement at every step.
With nearly a third of UK employees saying they would prefer a flexible schedule over higher pay, it advises employers to let staff know that requests for time off or to change shifts will be received without judgment.
Another great way for employers to show they care is by introducing wellness days where staff are allowed to take leave to focus on their wellness, aside from their traditional holidays.
The use of workforce management software is also encouraged so that employees can implement shift changes themselves – this works well for managers too, as they get more time to focus on the bigger picture.
Reward great performance and loyalty
Concerningly, only half of UK workers say they feel that their work is valued by their manager, with most of these believing their boss sees them as a disposable or temporary resource.
The report urges managers to acknowledge and reward workers from time to time saying such gestures would help them retain staff.
The Quinx finding pointed out that ultimately, employees are any business’s best asset.
According to Ms. Pagojute, there is a need for a sustained shift in organisations’ priorities. She added that “2022 presents a unique opportunity for companies to redress the balance and get employee engagement and wellbeing right for everyone.”
