PROVO, Utah and SEATTLE, July 27,
2021 /PRNewswire/ -- Almost half (45%) of working parents
feel discriminated against for focusing on their families during
the global pandemic, according to a new study by Qualtrics (Nasdaq:
XM), the world's No. 1 Experience Management (XM) provider and
creator of the XM category, and theBoardlist, a premium talent
marketplace that connects companies with diverse leaders for board
and executive opportunities. Parents said they received
criticism inside their company, were passed over for promotion, and
asked to cut back on hours worked as a result of taking care of
family responsibilities. Higher-level employees including managers,
directors, and vice presidents who focused on family
responsibilities were 40% more likely than individual contributors
to feel discriminated against. (Study results can be found
here).
With hybrid work models becoming more popular, providing
flexibility for employees will be key for companies in the new
world of work. The Qualtrics and theBoardlist study found that a
quarter of employees say their mental health has declined in the
past year, but most say working from home would improve their
mental health moving forward. That said, even with more flexible
options available, 42% of employees say they still feel pressure to
work in-person even if their employer is offering a hybrid or
remote option.
The past 18 months brought on challenges the workforce has never
seen, with women stepping away from successful careers at high
rates and many burnt-out employees walking away from their jobs.
Leaders who take time to focus on creating a better experience for
employees will have an increased advantage in attracting and
re-attracting top talent in a competitive labor market.
"The past year has been tough on many levels. Our research shows
that as a result, employees have changing expectations including in
their jobs and priorities," said Julia Anas, Chief People Officer,
Qualtrics. "Whatever challenges companies may face as they begin to
forge ahead with new work experiences, regularly connecting with
employees, being open to input, understanding their needs, and
acting on that feedback will be the key differentiator to creating
a better environment for employees to thrive and
succeed."
Key takeaways from the study include:
- Gen Z and women were most likely to face declining mental
health during the pandemic: More than a quarter of employees
(27%) said their mental health declined during the pandemic, and
women (33%), Gen Z (18%), and people who are separated or divorced
(34%) were most likely to say their mental health declined.
- Companies are looking to add more women leaders as
flexibility demands rise: A majority of employees (52%) say
having women in leadership improves flexibility and work from home
options. More than half of employees (53%) say their company is
proactive about increasing the number of women in leadership roles
at their company. And nearly two-thirds (61%) believe women are
strongly represented in leadership positions.
- Feeling pressure to work from the office: Even with
hybrid work models, 42% of employees say they feel pressured to
work in-person at the office, even if their employer is offering a
hybrid or remote option. And 45% of employees think those who work
in-person from an office have a career advantage for promotions and
raises compared to remote employees. They cited visibility to
leadership as the top advantage.
"This study offered clear insights into the impact Covid had on
working parents and women; however, these findings are not
surprising. What became very clear in 2020 is that women
still bear the brunt of domestic and childcare duties. And,
women have historically been overlooked for promotions, raises, and
benefits because of the perception that they are not as committed
to their workplace. These two factors continue to have
repercussions on a woman's access to leadership opportunities,"
said Megan Wang, COO, theBoardlist.
"However, the good news is that more people are recognizing the
need for flexibility in the workplace, and it is encouraging to see
58% of employees believe that their company would benefit from
having more women in leadership roles. It would be great to see
that number higher; however, I bet if we had surveyed this a decade
ago, it would have been significantly lower. Progress is being
made, even if slowly."
Additional Information:
- Full version of Qualtrics and theBoardlist study found here:
qualtrics.com/new-world-of-work-flexibility/
- To learn more about Qualtrics EmployeeXM, please visit:
qualtrics.com/employee-experience/
- To access Qualtrics study on workplace preferences, please
visit: qualtrics.com/blog/workplace-design-study/
About Qualtrics
Qualtrics, the world's No. 1
Experience Management (XM) provider and creator of the XM category,
is changing the way organizations manage and improve the four core
experiences of business—customer, employee, product, and brand.
Over 13,500 organizations around the world are using Qualtrics to
listen, understand, and take action on experience data
(X-data™)—the beliefs, emotions, and intentions that tell you why
things are happening, and what to do about it. The Qualtrics XM
Platform™ is a system of action that helps businesses attract
customers who stay longer and buy more, engage employees who build
a positive culture, develop breakthrough products people love, and
build a brand people are passionate about. To learn more, please
visit qualtrics.com.
About theBoardlist
theBoardlist is a premium talent
marketplace that connects companies with diverse leaders for board
and executive opportunities. We serve companies of all sizes,
across all industries to accelerate opportunities for diverse
leaders to achieve at the highest levels. Within our 22,000+
members, companies can find both experienced, well-known board
directors as well as emerging board-ready talent. Over 2000
companies have used theBoardlist, ranging from early stage startups
to public companies. For more information
visit www.theboardlist.com or follow theBoardlist on Twitter
@theBoardlist.
Contact: press@qualtrics.com
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SOURCE Qualtrics