Women Feel Obligated to Work While Sick – Survey Says.
18th July 2022
Workhuman®, the company revolutionising the way employees celebrate, connect with, and appreciate each other in the workplace, announced the results of a survey which highlights men and women’s perceived obligations when it comes to working remotely in Ireland, as well as the impact that their job has on their mental wellbeing.
The research found that more than half (57%) of women in Ireland feel obligated to work while sick when working remotely, compared with just a third (34%) of men.
It also found that women in Irish workplaces (40%) are more likely than men (32%) to feel mentally exhausted and drained after the working day.
Despite these disparities, Workhuman’s survey found that women and men are equally likely to feel respected at work in Ireland. The research showed that 65% of women working in Ireland feel respected in their jobs, compared to 64% of men. Meanwhile, over half (55%) of both women and men are likely to feel appreciated for their work.
The survey was carried out by Dynata on behalf of Workhuman across 2,268 full-time employees in Ireland, the UK, the U.S., and Canada. The aim of the research was to explore the state of human connection at work.
It found that while men and women are equally likely to feel respected and appreciated at work, women are more likely to value diversity and inclusion in the workplace.
When it comes to staying at their organisation, some 84% of women reported that diversity and inclusion is important to them, compared to 73% of men. Meanwhile, men working in Ireland (49%) are slightly more likely than women (42%) to see a clear path for growth within their organisation.
The research also provided insights into the experiences of parents working in Ireland. It found that parents are less likely to feel respected at work than parents in the UK, U.S., or Canada combined (64% vs 72%), while 60% were more likely to feel overworked in the last 12 months compared to 52% of their global counterparts and 40% of non-parents working in Ireland.
Niamh Graham (pictured), Senior Vice President Global Human Experience, Workhuman, said: “This research highlights work practices and sentiments in a post-pandemic world and allows us to observe how Irish workers fare against their global counterparts.
Women working remotely in Ireland clearly feel significantly more pressure to work while they are unwell, compared to their male colleagues. Whether this is external or internal pressure, it is something that must be addressed by every organisation as they strive to create more human-led workforces.
“We know from our own research that gender bias still exists in Irish – and global – workplaces. Managers must not only ensure that they themselves are treating everyone equally, but they must also be aware of how their team members are perceiving and acting upon their roles and obligations, and make sure that the workload is not disproportionately distributed based on a person’s gender, race or otherwise.
“Despite the differing attitudes highlighted in our research, it is encouraging to see that both women and men feel equally respected and appreciated at work in Ireland. Showing appreciation and recognising employees is not only good for the human, but also good for business.
“It is clear that more needs to be done to support working parents in organisations across the board.
Fostering a culture of belonging and taking the time to understand and get to know employees as people, who have rich lives outside of work, starts with putting wellbeing at the centre of your HR strategy.
Employers need to continue to build a culture of recognition and appreciation, especially in the decentralised workplace where conscious efforts should be made to connect with employees.”
Key findings roundup:
•Workhuman survey shows over half (57%) of women in Irish workplaces feel obligated to work while sick when working remotely, compared to a third (34%) of men
•Women in Ireland (40%) are more likely than men (32%) to feel mentally exhausted after work
•However, women and men are equally likely to feel respected at work
•Parents in Ireland are less likely to feel respected at work than parents in the UK, U.S., or Canada combined (64% vs 72%)
•60% of Irish parents were more likely to feel overworked in the last 12 months compared to their global counterparts (52%)
