Flexible work is ‘non-negotiable’ for gender equality, UN Women report says

Flexible work arrangements are “non-negotiable” for reaching gender equality in the workplace, according to a June 30 report from UN Women.

According to UN Women surveys about time use, women do three times more unpaid care and domestic work than men, averaging 4.2 hours per day, as compared to 1.7 hours for men. Flexible work could better accommodate household, child care and caregiving responsibilities, the report found. 

“For the first time, gender equality ranks alongside healthcare and climate change as a top global concern,” according to the report, which was based on data from the Team Lewis Foundation and HeForShe, a UN Women solidarity movement for gender equality.

Half of women said flexible work would make it easier for them to remain in the labor market. Among women reconsidering their jobs in 2025, 45% pointed to a lack of flexibility as a top concern, and 40% cited poor work-life balance. To boost equal care responsibilities at work and at home, companies can prioritize flexible hours, offer remote options and update their leave policies, UN Women said.

In addition, employers can support gender equality in the workplace through active listening, allyship and leadership development. In Team Lewis surveys, more than 40% of employees said their company’s efforts to support women could “go further,” and 47% said they wanted their employer to prioritize pay transparency. Companies can also audit their discrimination and harassment policies and create transparent promotion pathways, the report found.

Looking ahead, employers can tackle gender bias when integrating artificial intelligence tools into the workplace, UN Women said. In Team Lewis surveys, 28% of respondents said they were aware of gender bias in AI, and 24% said they believe AI frequently portrays women in misogynistic ways. In response, leaders can invest in diverse tech teams, audit tools for gender bias and consider gender equality during AI development and implementation, the report found.

For instance, a gender gap persists in AI-related skills, training, job access and pay, which could worsen labor shortages if not addressed, according to a Randstad report. Equitable access to skilling, resources and opportunities needs to be a fundamental part of addressing AI talent scarcity, Randstad’s CEO said.

Women in the “sandwich generation” — who support both children and adult dependents — could benefit from flexible work arrangements, caregiver leave and educational support, according to a report from Motherly and the University of Phoenix Career Institute. Two-thirds of women surveyed said their employer’s benefits aren’t enough to meet their caregiving needs, and half said they’ve left a job due to caregiving responsibilities.