More than eight out of ten women in senior management positions believe that men are uncomfortable working with them and that that not enough money is invested in training men on how to work more effectively with their female colleagues.
A survey of 234 women by Eve-olution, a training and development firm for women, suggests that organisations are overlooking the differences between men and women in the workforce and, as a result, are not only making it difficult for women to progress in the workplace, but also reducing their motivation and happiness.
Nine out of ten of the women questioned said that their organisation failed to provide adequate gender-specific training and development, with the absence of mentoring and coaching another cause for complaint.
The survey also found that those organisations that did offer training and development programmes were not effectively drawing on the different but complementary skills of men and women.
Tracey Carr, Managing Director, Eve-olution said that the findings were disconcerting.
“We are going through a unique period in history where men and women are having to learn for the first time, mostly by trial and error, how to get along at work whilst keeping quiet about the differences and challenges,” She said.
“Training is not only a means to ensure staff have the vital skills required to carry out their jobs to their best of their ability, it is an essential part of any retention strategy and can help meet overall business goals through a motivated and focused workforce.”
Carr described the finding that seven out of ten women said that flexible working and job share options impeded career advancement as “shocking” given the growing importance of work-life balance as a recruitment and retention device, particularly to women.
"For women to be fully integrated into a diverse workforce where all are valued equally, we need to create a new culture where difference is not perceived as inferior. This is especially so for any person who needs to take up flexible working." she said.