IWD: Remote working may advance women’s careers – but more need to apply for promotion, HP study finds

A global study on workplace trends commissioned by enterprise tech giant HP has revealed that more men than women have asked for and received a promotion this year, but overall, the flexibility offered by hybrid working was thought to be enhancing women’s careers.

The aim of the research – which considered the views of 6211 adults in the US, Canada, UK, Mexico and India – was to gauge retention attitudes and promotion behaviour among employees, with a particular emphasis on ways to advance more women and minorities into leadership positions.

The study found that less than half of all employees expressed an interest in promotion this year and of those who did, the majority were men – although this did vary from territory to territory.

In the US and Canada 30% of women applied for a promotion last year (compared to 38% of men) –and of those who applied, men were more successful (52% men vs 40% of women). However, these results are down to the fact that more men applied.

This ‘if you don’t ask you don’t get’ approach is borne out by the UK’s experience which bucks this trend: more women (32%) than men (26%) asked for a promotion last year and of those who applied 63% of women were successful compared with 60% of men.

In terms of workplace perceptions, the study found that many employees believe that their company is trying to fight gender discrimination – half of all respondents in US, UK and Canada – and more (67%) in Mexico.

Despite employer’s best efforts however, there was a feeling that inclusion has not been a priority during the pandemic, with COVID diverting attention elsewhere – a sentiment was felt particularly keenly in India (56%) and Mexico (27%).

Elsewhere, the study found that respondents in Mexico (42%) and the UK (38%) were most likely to believe that at hybrid work practices – involving a mix of office and remote working – was the key to retaining women and minority groups in the workplace

In other territories however, many believed that a physical connection was still an important mechanism to advance careers. US respondents were split on this issue:  with 30% favouring the office and another 30% opting for hybrid. Very few respondents across the board (less than 20%) believed 100% remote working was beneficial for advancing careers.

Read more: Does hybrid working help or hinder women’s tech careers?