When it comes to fostering a working environment that empowers women, about a third (36 per cent) of Canadian employees believe a hybrid work model is most beneficial for advancing women and minorities, according to a new survey by HP Canada.
Published to coincide with International Women’s Day, the survey rated an in-person/office model as the second most beneficial working environment (26 per cent) followed by remote working (17 per cent).
A separate survey, published by Salesforce, found a similar perspective, with proximity bias a great concern for Canadian female employees. Indeed, when it comes to working from home, women were twice as likely than men to fear they’ll be judged by colleagues who choose to work in office; pose concerns they won’t get enough face time with senior leadership; and believe that it will be difficult to feel part of the workplace culture.
Read: Expert panel: Less talk, more action needed to move needle on DEI at top
In the HP Canada survey, half (49 per cent) of survey respondents felt their company is making more efforts in combatting discrimination toward gender in the workplace than in the past. However, despite initial gender discrimination efforts, 34 per cent strongly or somewhat agreed that diversity, equity and inclusion efforts have declined in 2020, with the coronavirus pandemic diverting attention elsewhere. More than half (52 per cent) of generation Z employees were more likely to believe their company’s efforts have decreased.
On the other hand, the Salesforce survey found one in four Canadians don’t feel their employer is doing enough to build a more equitable workplace, while 71 per cent of respondents said they haven’t been asked for feedback on how to make their workplace more inclusive.
In contrast, a vast majority (87 per cent) of employer respondents said they believe they’ve done enough to make their workplaces more inclusive in the last year. The top four measures taken were: flexible working hours (55 per cent), remote work (43 per cent), reskilling opportunities (21 per cent) and mentorship opportunities (20 per cent).
Read: More DEI measures needed at Canadian workplaces: polls
The HP Canada survey also found Canadian women were less successful in getting a promotion than men this past year, with 52 per cent of men being promoted versus 29 per cent of women who were equally qualified. This is driven by a lack of confidence among women to apply or express interest in pursuing a growth opportunity, with 30 per cent of men applying compared to 25 per cent of women.
Across all HP Canada survey respondents, 41 per cent said they’re looking to leave their current employer. Among those who aren’t looking to move, 44 per cent cited the flexibility to manage work and life as the top reason for staying.