Gender-based adversity is still pervasive and affects 74% of women surveyed by Procurious. The company's new study, Women in Procurement and Supply Chain: Against The Odds, explores the issues that women are facing.
When it came to the specific forms of gender-based adversity women experience in the workplace, respondents cited men taking credit for their work or ideas, learning they’re paid less than their male counterparts, feeling disadvantaged in the workplace because of their gender, being asked to perform administrative work outside of their role – more so than their male counterparts – and struggling to “get air time” in virtual meetings.
“Women endure innumerable microaggressions and challenges daily,” said Tania Seary, founding chairman and CEO of Procurious, in a statement.
“Although women are making gains in the workforce and forward-thinking organizations are investing in and protecting their female employees, significant challenges remain," Seary added. "Put bluntly: There’s a lot of talk but not enough action or results. Our research found that only 16% of women have seen their organizations make tangible progress toward addressing gender bias this year. We need to work together to lift up, empower and protect women in the workforce and drive real change.”
The research, conducted by Procurious’ BRAVO Leadership Program, is based on global survey data of over 170 women and is designed to understand the prevalence and impact of gender bias in the procurement workforce and the investments companies are making to drive change.
Key findings include:
- 23% of respondents said women make up 40-50% of their procurement leadership team, but just 15% see this composition of women in the C-suite or Board of Directors.
- Just 14% of companies have strategies in place to protect and promote women in supply chain and procurement. 16% are working on implementing them, but 70% either have no strategies in place or they are so ineffective that they go unnoticed.
- 63% of women indicated they are pulling double and even triple duty at home, being primarily responsible for one or more forms of domestic work.
The survey revealed most companies appear to be doing little to nothing at all to address gender bias in the workplace. When asked about the top resources and initiatives that women want their companies to invest in to help empower them and tackle gender inequality in the workforce, closing the gender pay gap (49%), mentoring (47%) and leadership training (45%) topped the list.
