Let’s say that your company still operates on a brick-and-mortar basis. What does your office space say about your company? Is it comprised of cavernous cubicles, rows of offices, all dressed in a drab gray color and illuminated by the ever-flattering fluorescent lighting? Is it promoting gender bias?
Does Your Office Design Promote Gender Bias?
If you’ve ever wondered if the style of your office space has an impact on productivity—and your workers’ overall attitude—just read the Fast Company article, “Is Your Office Layout Causing Gender Bias?” As it turns out, the design aesthetic can be a major factor in contributing to gender disparity in the workplace.
The office is already a tough place for women. They are typically less likely to see fellow female colleagues in senior management positions, have a more difficult time climbing the corporate ladder, and on top of that, they doubt that they’ll even reach managerial levels, according to research from the Women in the Workplace 2016 study.
And the design of an office space certainly doesn’t help. Women tend to favor open spaces where everyone is considered an equal, but most office designs are segmented and lean towards a hierarchal standard (think cubes and rows of private offices).
While it might not be overt, this structure tends to separate working women due to lack of naturally occuring interactions.
In short, women are not seen—and therefore not considered for mentorship or possible promotions.
Discover a better way to recruit remote talent
Founded in 2007, FlexJobs is the most experienced remote & hybrid hiring platform.
- Unlimited job posts
- Low, flat membership fee
- Access top-level remote advice
- Unlimited resume searches
- Reach the right candidates
- And so much more!
In the article, a study is cited regarding female mice being isolated for one day, which led to an increase in corticosterone, a chemical associated with stress. Male mice did not exhibit this same behavior.
Women work best when they are able to see, be seen, and work together.
Preventing Gender Bias through Design
One solution for brick-and-mortar businesses is to rethink their office design. Some companies are coming up with movable wall sections and sliding doors, so that office spaces can transform as needed. This can allow for greater visibility for all, but also offer privacy as needed, such as when there are meetings with clients.
Although this could sound like the workforce is catering to only women’s needs, it really isn’t. When you consider that half the workforce is female, it simply makes sense to customize the workspace to better fit the needs of all workers, instead of shutting out one segment, and therefore impeding productivity and also reducing office morale.
Another option is to allow for work flexibility. The likelihood that office-bound businesses will rethink their office layouts and undergo a costly redesign for the benefit (and betterment) of its female workers is questionable at best.
What is more plausible is allowing a company’s employees the ability to participate in a flexible work program. Not only would that help reduce the stress and invisibility factor that so many female workers face, but it would also allow them to work on their terms and improve employee wellness and effectiveness.
Flex would eliminate the problems that being in an office pose, such as not feeling a connection to management, being isolated in the office, and being relegated to working in a cubicle, since remote workers tend to possess strong communication skills that would give them greater access to working with top-level management and male coworkers alike. Working without walls would give female workers a greater and much-needed sense of inclusion.
It would seem that without the physical constraints of a traditional male-oriented office space, both male and female remote workers would be free to be on a more level working (and playing) field.
Interested in hiring flex workers?
Request an Invite to FlexJobs
Readers, does your office space reflect a traditional design of cubicles and closed-off offices, or is it more open for its workers? Would you consider a flexible work program to give female workers a greater sense of inclusion and prevent gender bias? Let us know what you think in the comments below!
Photo credit: bigstockphoto.com
Don't forget to share this article with colleagues!
