Women at Work

Latest Episodes:

Introducing Season Four Oct 07, 2019

Show notes

Women at Work is back Oct. 14 with stories, conversations, and practical advice about being a woman in the workplace. Expect to hear from us every Monday for the next couple of months.

Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org

Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.

Sisterhood Is Trust Jun 17, 2019

Show notes

Emotional vulnerability makes high-quality relationships at work possible. When we’ve built trust and understanding with colleagues, we’re more likely to be productive and engaged. But research suggests not all women feel that they can be vulnerable enough to develop these relationships.

This episode continues our exploration of how women approach sisterhood at the office (see “Sisterhood Is Scarce” and “Sisterhood Is Power” from season two for previous discussions). We talk with Beth Livingston and Tina Opie about takeaways from their recent study of workplace relationships.

Our HBR reading list:

“Survey: Tell Us About Your Workplace Relationships,” by Tina R. Opie and Beth A. Livingston
“Our Biases Undermine Our Colleagues’ Attempts to Be Authentic,” by Tina R. Opie and R. Edward Freeman
“Don’t Underestimate the Power of Women Supporting Each Other at Work,” by Anne Welsh McNulty

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Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org

Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.

Why Things Aren’t Better, Yet Jun 10, 2019

Show notes

Since #MeToo became a household term, a lot of people have been trying to make work a safer place for everyone. But organizational change is slow, and it’s not always easy for individual employees to respond to and prevent sexual harassment.

Marianne Cooper shares some findings from LeanIn.Org and McKinsey & Company’s “Women in the Workplace 2018” report. Then, we talk with Sarah Beaulieu about how to deal with inappropriate behavior in the office.

Our HBR reading list:

“It’s Not Always Clear What Constitutes Sexual Harassment. Use This Tool to Navigate the Gray Areas,” by Kathleen Kelley Reardon
“Study: When Leaders Take Sexual Harassment Seriously, So Do Employees,” by Chloe Hart, Alison Dahl Crossley, and Shelley Correll
“Why Sexual Harassment Persists and What Organizations Can Do to Stop It,” by Colleen Ammerman and Boris Groysberg
“How to Talk About Sexual Harassment with Your Coworkers,” by Amy Gallo

Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org

Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network

When You’re Responsible for Eldercare Jun 03, 2019

Show notes

Caring for sick or elderly family members is still mostly women’s work, according to research. The emotional labor and unpredictability of this work takes a heavy toll on caregivers; it impacts our wellbeing, finances, and careers. And while companies have gotten better about acknowledging and accommodating childcare, many could offer more support and flexibility to their employees taking care of adults.

We talk with Anne Bardoel about what the research says about women and eldercare. She’s been through it herself, and she offers strategies to cope with the negative effects like exhaustion, isolation, and depression. She also gives advice to employees and managers on how to start conversations about caregiving commitments. Then, we hear from a woman who was thrust into caring for her parents and in-laws a lot sooner than she expected.

Our HBR reading list:

“No One Should Have to Choose Between Caregiving and Work,” by Jody Gastfriend

“Caring for Your Company’s Caregivers,” by Sarita Gupta and Ai-jen Poo

“Making Caregiving Compatible with Work,” by Nanette Fondas

Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org

Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.

There’s More to Gender Than “Man” and “Woman” May 27, 2019

Show notes

Research shows that people who don’t conform to the gender binary are often mistreated by their colleagues, their managers, or HR. Some get fired, demoted, or shut out of the labor market altogether. If fewer people thought gender was restricted to “man” and “woman,” there’d be less discrimination, and we could all express ourselves however we want to.

Lily Zheng talks about what she’s learned from studying the workplace experiences of people who identify as trans, nonbinary, genderfluid, butch, or gender-diverse in some other way. She also points out how the gender binary can restrict cis people. Then she gives advice to managers and peers on how to be respectful and supportive of gender-diverse colleagues.

Our HBR reading list:

Gender Ambiguity in the Workplace: Transgender and Gender-Diverse Discrimination, by Alison Ash Fogarty and Lily Zheng
“Managing Your Professional Identity During a Gender Change,” by Dorie Clark
“Research: Why Employer Support Is So Important for Transgender Employees,” by Christian Thoroughgood and Katina Sawyer
“What to Do When Your Colleague Comes Out as Transgender,” by Dorie Clark
“How Men Get Penalized for Straying from Masculine Norms,” by David M. Mayer

Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org

When Women Compete May 20, 2019

Show notes

Why is it that competing with a man to get a promotion, lead a project, or influence a decision can feel so satisfying, while competing with a woman can feel so uncomfortable? And why is normal, healthy conflict between women often seen as a catfight?

First up, a listener revisits an experience from early in her career when she felt pitted against the only other woman on her team, who she had hoped would be a mentor, not a rival. Then, Leah Sheppard draws on her research to explain how stereotyping and gender inequity can shape the way women think about and approach competition at work.

Our HBR reading list:

HBR Guide to Dealing with Conflict, by Amy Gallo

“Women Experience More Incivility at Work — Especially from Other Women,” by Allison S. Gabriel, Marcus M. Butts, and Michael T. Sliter

“The Pros and Cons of Competition Among Employees,” by Anna Steinhage, Dan Cable, and Duncan Wardley

“How Masculinity Contests Undermine Organizations, and What to Do About It,” by Jennifer L. Berdahl, Peter Glick, and Marianne Cooper

Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org

Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.

Sorry Not Sorry May 13, 2019

Show notes

Lots of us have heard the advice that we should stop apologizing so much, especially at work. But do women really say “sorry” too often? And will it actually help our careers if we stop? We turn to two experts for insight.

Karina Schumann, an assistant professor of psychology at the University of Pittsburgh, summarizes the findings from her study “Why Women Apologize More Than Men.” Then we talk with Sally Helgesen, an executive coach and a coauthor of the book How Women Rise. She explains that saying “sorry” is only one form of the minimizing language women use at the office and shares advice on how to break the habit.

Our HBR reading list:

“Why Women Apologize More Than Men: Gender Differences in Thresholds for Perceiving Offensive Behavior,” by Karina Schumann and Michael Rosee

“The Power of Talk: Who Gets Heard and Why,” by Deborah Tannen

How Women Rise: Break the 12 Habits Holding You Back from Your Next Raise, Promotion, or Job, by Sally Helgesen and Marshall Goldsmith

Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org

Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.

No Partner, No Kids, No Problem May 06, 2019

Show notes

If you aren’t married and don’t have kids, people at work might assume a lot of things: that you can stay late at the office, that you can’t possibly understand their stories about parenthood, that you just haven’t found the right partner (ugh). But those assumptions are often false. Single childless women have busy lives, close relationships with children like nieces or nephews — and many don’t want coupledom or motherhood.

We talk to two women who’ve been researching and writing about being a single childless professional. The writer Shani Silver shares her experience with the career pros and cons, and then Tracy Dumas, a professor at Ohio State University, gives research-backed advice for responding to bias and unrealistic expectations.

Our HBR reading list:

“The Average Mid-Forties Male College Graduate Earns 55% More Than His Female Counterparts,” by Erling Barth, Claudia Goldin, Sari Pekkala Kerr, and Claudia Olivetti
“How Managers Can Be Fair About Flexibility for Parents and Non-Parents Alike,” by Joan C. Williams and Marina Multhaup
“The Ambition-Marriage Trade-Off Too Many Single Women Face,” by Leonardo Bursztyn, Thomas Fujiwara, and Amanda Pallais

The Upside of Working Motherhood Apr 29, 2019

Show notes

You’ve heard the story: Motherhood and work are at odds, and women who pursue both have to make endless trade-offs and compromises. And yet, lots of women go for it, with great results for themselves, their families, and their careers. In fact, research suggests that parenting can enrich our careers, and vice versa.

Professors Danna Greenberg and Jamie Ladge talk about the benefits of being a working mom. They share advice around setting expectations, finding child care, asking for help, and advocating for ourselves as kids get older. Then, our fellow HBR editor Erica Truxler checks in with a listener about returning to work after parental leave.

Our HBR reading list:

Maternal Optimism: Forging Positive Paths through Work and Motherhood, by Jamie Ladge and Danna Greenberg
“How Working Parents Can Manage the Demands of School-Age Kids,” by Daisy Wademan Dowling
“How to Launch a Working Parents’ Support Group in Your Organization,” by Daisy Wademan Dowling
“4 Conversations Every Overwhelmed Working Parent Should Have,” by Joseph Grenny and Brittney Maxfield

Email us: womenatwork@hbr.org
Our theme music is Matt Hill’s “City In Motion,” provided by Audio Network.

Step into the Spotlight Apr 22, 2019

Show notes

There are lots of ways to get visibility at work: give a presentation, speak up in a meeting, have lunch with a senior leader. When done well, in front of people with influence, these actions can lead to a promotion, a raise, or more resources for your team. But research shows there are sound reasons women sometimes decide to not be more visible and instead quietly push forward projects or stay behind the scenes.

In this live episode, recorded at Sixth & I in Washington, DC, we get advice from Muriel Maignan Wilkins on navigating the spotlight, offer managers tips on making visibility easier for women, and take questions from the audience.

Our HBR reading list: