In this study, at virtually every organization, everyone interviewed said that work-life balance — the ability to work effectively and have time for a fulfilling and healthy life outside of work — is a core value of the organization. And yet, every organization struggles to live that value. Emails can fly at all hours. Work spills into nights, weekends, vacations, hospital waiting rooms, and family celebrations. People are feeling burned out.
The modern workplace is changing rapidly, with workers demanding greater flexibility about when, where and how they work. A recent study found that 70% of global professionals spend at least one day a week working remotely. With geography and time zones no longer a barrier, remote or distributed work is becoming what we simply call “work.”
America’s largest banks—and particularly their investment banking divisions—offer some of the most competitive, coveted jobs in the US, with salaries to match. But though gender parity may be a feature of the lowest rungs of the corporate ladder, it’s lonely for women at the top. A 2018 survey from LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Co. found that only one in five senior leaders is female. (One in 25 is a woman of color.)
Many senior male managers are reportedly responding to the #MeToo movement by pulling back from mentoring women. This backlash has little basis in reality. False accusations of sexual harassment are about 2%, the same as any other crime. Repercussions of depriving female employees of the counseling, developmental opportunities, exposure, and visibility that come from mentoring relationships have serious consequences for the organization.
The Time to Change campaign says nine in 10 people who experience mental health problems report facing stigma and discrimination. More than half say they experience that stigma the most at work, meaning many do not feel they can talk openly with their line manager. Things are improving, but the stigma means that, like me, 95% of employees would prefer to call in sick with a made-up reason, rather than reveal the truth about their poor mental health.
