Gone are the days when women had to choose between a successful career and a rewarding life outside the office. According to a recent article in the Wall Street Journal, women can juggle their ascent up the corporate ladder and an enjoyable home and family life. Today’s young women demand and expect it, and they are determined to make it happen…
Please read on for a quick synopsis of this fascinating article.
– The pandemic triggered many people to question the place that works should occupy in their lives. What are today’s young women willing to give up to achieve their career ambitions and, indeed, should they have to renounce any of their interests or passions in the pursuit of workplace success? The response takes the form of the popular prioritisation of a healthy work/life balance. Apparently, there is space in our lives for hard work, networking, training, walking the dog, collecting the kids from school and making that yoga class on a Tuesday morning.
– The traditional workplace is designed for people who consistently make work their number one priority. This makes it harder for women – who shoulder the lion’s share of housework and childcare responsibilities – to flourish at work.
– Workers with an always-on approach to work tend to fare better at review time, securing more promotions and faster earnings growth. Add in concerns about the current economic climate and the idea of easing off at work can seem decidedly risky.
– Despite the above considerations, young women are increasingly aspiring to a successful, rewarding life both inside and outside the office. They see what the older generation of female C-suite leaders had to give up to get to the top of the corporate ladder, and they do not intend to make the same sacrifices. They perceive many of those women leaders as unhappy or burnt out, and have no aspirations to replicate the pattern.
– Some female baby boomers and Gen Xers who have made great successes in their careers are wondering if they could/should have done things differently. Perhaps taking a career break for childcare or prioritising school plays would not have hindered their ascent, after all.
What are your experiences on the subject? Does your current job deliver a good work/life balance? If it disappoints on this or any other front, please contact us at info@ablrecruitment.com or on 020 7092 3911. With over 30 years of experience in the recruitment industry and longstanding relationships with 400+ leading companies worldwide, we will quickly find you great matches that deliver on all your career expectations.
