In 2021, 42% of women and 35% of men state feeling constantly burned out at work. A new report suggests that pressure put on women to balance work and childcare is leading to disproportionate and painful levels of strain.
The annual Women in the Workplace report from McKinsey & Co. and LeanIn.Org found that the gap between women and men who say they are burned out has nearly doubled in the last year. The survey polled more than 65,000 North American employees, revealing that 42% of women and 35% of men reported feeling burned out often or almost always in 2021, compared to 32% of women and 28% of men last year.
The pandemic has placed considerably more responsibility on women than men, especially those with young and school-aged children. Many women have been forced from their jobs when childcare was unavailable during the early days of the pandemic.
The annual Women in the Workplace report from McKinsey & Co. and LeanIn.Org found that the gap between women and men who say they are burned out has nearly doubled in the last year. The survey polled more than 65,000 North American employees, revealing that 42% of women and 35% of men reported feeling burned out often or almost always in 2021, compared to 32% of women and 28% of men last year.
The pandemic has placed considerably more responsibility on women than men, especially those with young and school-aged children. Many women have been forced from their jobs when childcare was unavailable during the early days of the pandemic.
According to the study, one in three women has considered downshifting her career or leaving the workforce altogether in the past twelve months, up from one in four women in 2020.
When couples are faced with a decision on who should step back from work to take on childcare duties—or who should juggle both work and childcare—the pay gap plays an economic role. Since women earn 82 cents on the dollar compared to men, that is frequently a deciding factor for many. That 82 cents gets larger for Black and Latina women, who earn 63 cents and 55 cents on the dollar, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. In the same survey, just 27% of men said they would think about downshifting their careers in 2021.
When couples are faced with a decision on who should step back from work to take on childcare duties—or who should juggle both work and childcare—the pay gap plays an economic role. Since women earn 82 cents on the dollar compared to men, that is frequently a deciding factor for many. That 82 cents gets larger for Black and Latina women, who earn 63 cents and 55 cents on the dollar, according to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research. In the same survey, just 27% of men said they would think about downshifting their careers in 2021.
For those women remaining in the workforce, no wonder they're burned out. Childcare demands aside, women are more likely than men to experience microaggressions at work.
A microaggression, as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is "a comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group."
As an example, the report states that 34% of women senior leaders and 27% of women who are entry-level employees stated their judgment was questioned in their area of expertise, as opposed to 22% of men at each level.
Women also deal with the Double Bind (being viewed as competent or likable, but not both) and the Motherhood Penalty, where their careers are stalled or derailed simply because they are (or will at some point become) parents. Plus, women also do much more for diversity, equity, and inclusion at work, not to mention many other tasks that go unseen, unappreciated, and unpaid, but add to their workload and, by default, their burnout.
If you're one of the many experiencing burnout, evaluating your options and seeking support are two ways to dial down overwhelm and stress. Often, a coach can help guide you to discover ways to find a better balance.
If you could use someone on your side, please reach out to schedule a complimentary phone session to see if coaching can help.
Excerpts attributed to this Time article.
A microaggression, as defined by the Merriam-Webster Dictionary is "a comment or action that subtly and often unconsciously or unintentionally expresses a prejudiced attitude toward a member of a marginalized group."
As an example, the report states that 34% of women senior leaders and 27% of women who are entry-level employees stated their judgment was questioned in their area of expertise, as opposed to 22% of men at each level.
Women also deal with the Double Bind (being viewed as competent or likable, but not both) and the Motherhood Penalty, where their careers are stalled or derailed simply because they are (or will at some point become) parents. Plus, women also do much more for diversity, equity, and inclusion at work, not to mention many other tasks that go unseen, unappreciated, and unpaid, but add to their workload and, by default, their burnout.
If you're one of the many experiencing burnout, evaluating your options and seeking support are two ways to dial down overwhelm and stress. Often, a coach can help guide you to discover ways to find a better balance.
If you could use someone on your side, please reach out to schedule a complimentary phone session to see if coaching can help.
Excerpts attributed to this Time article.
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