Nearly two thirds of women working in IT have left or are about to leave the profession, according to research by recruitment firm Hudson UK.
The chief complaint is the lack of flexible working patterns. Some 88 per cent of women said that they disliked the nine-to-five routine, and 43 per cent did not expect to be working a full time nine-to-five routine by 2010.
"Many women have tasted corporate life and have decided that there are better ways of making their mark on the world than following the traditional working model set before them," said Paul Taylor, director of IT at Hudson UK.
"It is not just the demands of family life that are encouraging women to reject working conventions in favour of their own methods.
"In order to have more control over where, when and how they work, they are setting up their own businesses, retraining or pursuing a 'portfolio' career."
More than half of the women questioned are frustrated at the lack of flexible working times, and over three quarters are angry that they are unable to work from home. Over half also feel frustrated at the lack of career prospects for women in the industry.
Employers recognise the problem, according to the survey, but are unwilling to do anything about it.
Almost 70 per cent of employers admitted that they would have staffing problems if women left the industry, but just six per cent have any specific recruitment strategy for hiring more women.
There is also a difference of perception between employers and employees over the issue. More than eight out of 10 employers believe that they provide flexible working, yet barely half of employees believe that it is an option in their company.
Do you agree?
er, most of these apply to guys, too...
I'm a guy. I work in IT.
I would like more flexible working times, and to work from home too, y'know! But I don't see any news reports about that!
OK, I get that some women need flexible working times to pick up kids from school etc - but if that's the case, why not get a job where that's in the contract in the first place, rather than taking a 9-5 job and then complaining about it? Or am I being FAR too logical about this? I wouldn't take a job with 5 days a year holiday in the terms, and then complain I don't get any time off... I just wouldn't take the job. As long as there are sufficient PEOPLE to fill the jobs, there's no need to change the terms. Getting companies to dream up "how to recruit women" policies would be unfair on the men who work in the industry. Unless we have "bloke policies" as well, like paid hangover recovery time.
As for career progression, in my working life of 13 years, over 75% of my direct managers have been women. I currently report to a woman, whose boss is a woman, who reports to a woman director. In a FTSE100 company. So much for no career progression.
EQUAL opportunities please!
Posted by Mike, 14 Dec 2005
You can do it too.
In response to the previous comment: You are just as capable of any woman to leave the field. These wmoen just choose to take the initiative and go do something they like better like starting their own business. Jump off the band wagon and jump on your own horse.
Also, I see no where stating that these women were complaining. They did as you said and didn't take the job (after they tried it out of course).
:)
Posted by J.S., 16 Dec 2005
Dealing with reality
Complaining about the lack of flexible working patterns would tend to support other articles about offshoring to China and India.
The women in the survey are either not dealing with reality or simply not capable of competing with hungrier populations.
Posted by Dobra D, 17 Dec 2005
Is it any wonder?
"Employers recognise the problem, according to the survey, but are unwilling to do anything about it."
And we can hope that those who take this attitude have great difficulty in recruiting.
I work (in California) for a company that provides both flexible hours and the ability to work from home. I don't notice any reduction in the number of women working here.
Perhaps the companies who are having difficulty should contemplate their own sins...
Posted by Mike, 17 Dec 2005
Response to Mike
Mike I can respect your comments on behalf of men whose lives typically center around their career assisted by the homemaking of working women. On behalf of women, including your bosees, who spend their work lives multitasking (kudos) and often do so transparently, I say walk a mile in their/our shoes then see if you can handle it.
Posted by Francine, 17 Dec 2005
Where the women aren't.
My direct supervisor is a women. The CEO is also a female. I work the standard 9-5 in an inflexible position. This is the field of technology and our careers are based upon the support of the business model. To accomplish that it is necessary to work the hours within the time frame of that business model.
Posted by bob, 19 Dec 2005
More for US
Good let them quit, more jobs for us guys!
Posted by Keenan, 19 Dec 2005
Don't blame them for quitting
I don't blame the IT women for quitting the industry.
Who in their right mind would want to work with a load of ignorant, arrogant men anyway !
I find IT chaps to be rather odd and very arrogant.
Posted by Karen, 02 Apr 2006