Gender equity campaign launched based on stark research findings

The British Chambers of Commerce (BCC) worked with leading panel provider Find Out Now to conduct a landmark survey of more than 4,100 respondents in February 2023.

The research found that two thirds of women feel they have missed out on career progression because of childcare responsibilities.

The survey, the first of its kind from the BCC, looks 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.

Childcare

Two-thirds (67 per cent) of female 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 per cent believed they missed out.

Almost two-thirds (62 per cent) of female respondents said they would prefer to take time from paid work for childcare responsibilities, compared to 55 per cent of male respondents.

General caring responsibilities

77 per cent of male respondents believe there is not sufficient support available for people with non-paid caring responsibilities for elderly or disabled relatives or friends. This figure increases to 86 per cent for female respondents.

For those who have had caring responsibilities in the last 10 years, an equal proportion (52 per cent) of males and female respondents felt they missed out on career progression as a result of their duties.

Menopause

Almost three quarters (74 per cent) of female respondents feel there is not sufficient support for those experiencing menopause.

One in three (34 per cent) female respondents who have gone through menopause felt that 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 (43 per cent) of female respondents believe they will miss out on career opportunities due to menopause.

Levelling Up for Women in the Workplace

The BCC is committed to facing these challenges head on by levelling up for women in the workplace, through an urgent three-year Chamber campaign.

The campaign will be based on a three-point plan, to include short-term action, medium-term work and long-term goals.

Sarah Howard MBE (pictured), Chair of the BCC, said: “Today is day one of our three-year BCC campaign to face these challenges head on by levelling up for women in the workplace.

“Priority number one is to immediately form a BCC Workplace Equity Commission with business leaders, employment experts and Chamber CEOs from across our national and international network to analyse the survey findings in detail.

“The commission, led by the BCC, will work with Government to help shape the future of the workplace and will also develop best practices for businesses to adopt.

“Our ultimate goal is to see the dial moving in the right direction when we rerun this same survey again over the course of the next three years.

“A level playing field is not just a nice to have. Gender equity is good for the economy, good for our labour market and good for society as a whole. ”