The pattern of results indicated that a near-equal balance of men and women in management was critical to observing gains in financial and non-financial KPIs. Once the proportion of women in management exceeded 60 per cent, the benefits plateaued, confirming that a mix between 40 per cent and 60 per cent is necessary for optimal performance.
Analysts also found a direct correlation between the percentage of women in the total workforce and those in management, indicating gender-balanced workforces and leadership create an environment supportive of career growth for women. This lends support to the idea that gender parity in top leadership is closely related to the pipeline of women in the workforce.
Sean Haley, chairman, Sodexo UK & Ireland says, ‘As a business, we have been committed to the advancement of women for a long time.
‘By putting our head above the parapet and actually conducting research on our own workforce, we have been able to prove that gender-balanced leadership not only makes business sense, but can enhance the quality of life of our employees.
‘Despite notable progress, we are fully aware more work needs to be done, which is why achieving gender balance is one of the three pillars of our Better Tomorrow 2025 vision.’
Sodexo, already a leader in diversity & inclusion, is breaking new ground in gender parity. Today, women represent 50 per cent of its board. Thirty-two percent of senior leadership positions are held by women globally – a 6 per cent increase at the very top levels since 2013.
Middle management and site management positions are balanced at 46 per cent. Currently, 59 per cent of the total workforce works within gender-balanced management.
Rohini Anand, PhD, senior vice president, corporate responsibility and global chief diversity officer, Sodexo adds, ‘These results add a new, compelling dimension to a growing body of research that demonstrates the business benefits of gender equity.
‘The distinctive nature of the study, with its examination of both financial and non-financial performance indicators across so many levels of management and the pipeline to leadership, is a significant piece of the overall picture on the importance of gender in the workforce for enhanced outcomes.’
The unique Sodexo Gender Balance Study originated in 2014 with Sodexo’s desire to improve its gender parity in leadership throughout the management of its 425,000 global workforce and to expand previous outside research on gender parity in the workplace.
Further reading on gender balanced management
