Remote Work Offers Viable Solution to Bridge Tech's Gender Gap

Posted by John Tie on October 29th, 2018

Some technology companies are making genuine efforts toward increasing gender diversity. However, it seems that they still have a long way to go as according to the National Center for Women & Information Technology, women still hold just 25% of the professional computing jobs — down from 36 percent in 1991. Things would have looked more dismal had it not been for remote work where females seem to enjoy some parity with their male counterparts. A study by Remote.co revealed that women constituted 42% of the leadership in remote companies. This is in sharp contrast to S&P 500 companies where the presence of women in leadership roles was a measly 14%.  According to a 2017 study by Robert Walters and Jobsite, remote work opportunities are top priorities for women in the tech field with 75 percent opining that businesses offering remote opportunities would be more likely to retain top talents. Remote opportunities here may refer to the work-from-home option. The flexibility and freedom offered by remote working makes it a top draw for the top female talents.

Some people who live in rural communities or areas are forced to take up low-skilled jobs despite possessing higher qualifications. This phenomenon is more prominent among women who often don't get the opportunities to work in good tech companies despite having good qualifications. Remote work can open doors to people who are very qualified but have lack of transportation or some other issues come in their way of getting a good job.

The situation, in fact, is totally different for women. It goes without saying that women who have children need more flexibility when it comes to work timings. And if organizations are not too keen to make this happen, there is a high probability that a female employee in her mid-30s may ultimately quit her job.

A Pew Research Center study found that 51% women believed being a working mother made it extremely difficult for them to pay proper attention to their careers. This was in sharp contrast to what men maintained as only 15% of the working fathers had the same opinion. The study also found that 42% mothers reduced their work hours to care for a child or a family member compared to 28% fathers. According to a study by the Center for Work-Life Policy, 56% women in technical positions quit their job midway in their career. More than 50 percent of the married female alumni of Harvard Business School aged 30 or less revealed their preference for jobs with flexible working hours. 

Remote work can make it easier for women who wish to start a family by offering them physical flexibility and time self-management options that they need. Remote working makes a lot of sense as it grossly unfair to force a woman to choose between starting a family and working in a tech industry. 76% of female tech professionals think businesses offering remote work would be more likely to retain top talent. Allowing women to work from a remote connection creates a win-win situation for all.  Organizations that facilitate remote working are more likely to retain top talent. Apart from the heightened retention rate, they also score high on workforce diversity which works well for their PR. 

In a more conservative country like India where there is an abundance of talent but where women are discouraged from venturing out too far from their home to find work, remote work can be a real blessing. Remote work in India, apart from lowering the gender gap in the technology industry, can also boost the efficiency and the productivity of an organization. Hiring dedicated remote staff can help your organization gain a competitive edge in the marketplace as it can achieve its objectives with efficient use of the available resources.