Two thirds of women feel they have missed out on career progression because of childcare responsibilities, according to a survey by the British Chambers of Commerce.
Working with panel provider Find Out Now in the first survey of its kind from the BCC, the organisation has looked at the perceived impact childcare, general caring responsibilities and menopause have on a person’s career, as well as the support available to those impacted by the issues.
Shevaun Haviland, Director General of the BCC, said: “This survey is the first of its kind carried out by the BCC. With over 4,000 respondents, it is a significant contribution to assessing the state of play of gender equity across society today.
“Many people feel that the burden of childcare, caring responsibilities and menopause have had a negative impact on their career, but women report higher levels of concern across the board.
“What women want is a level playing field. They don’t want handouts or a hand up, they simply want to make sure there are no barriers to career progression and face the same opportunities as their male counterparts.
“Tackling these issues is integral not only to the wellbeing of our women and workplaces, it is crucial to the functioning of any strong economy.”
As a result of the survey the BCC intends to develop a three-year campaign based on a three-point plan, to include:
- Short-term action: Convene employment experts, Chamber CEOs and employers to create a Chamber Workplace Equity Commission.
- Medium-term work: The commission to analyse research findings and case studies, to develop policies for Government and best practices for businesses enshrining equity in the workplace.
- Long-term goal: Re-run the same survey with the aim of moving the dial on the findings we are publishing today.
Two-thirds of women amongst the 4,000-plus respondents who have had childcare responsibilities in the last 10 years felt they missed out on career progression as a result. This includes career development, pay rises and/or promotions. For male respondents who have had childcare responsibilities, 35% believed they missed out.
Three quarters of male respondents believed there was not sufficient support available for people with non-paid caring responsibilities for elderly or disabled relatives or friends. This figure increases to 86% for women.
For those who have had caring responsibilities in the last 10 years, half of all respondents felt they missed out on career progression as a result of their duties.
Almost three quarters women felt there was not sufficient support for those experiencing menopause, with one in three who have gone through menopause feeling it impacted their career negatively.
However, there is a higher level of concern about the impact of menopause on a woman’s career amongst those who are yet to experience it. Almost half of women believe they will miss out on career opportunities due to menopause.
