SINGAPORE: Since the COVID-19 pandemic struck, hybrid work arrangements have become more and more popular, and have proven to be of special advantage to women. And while it’s been four years since that time, a new study has shown that a hybrid work set-up continues to benefit women, allowing them to make bold career choices.

The inpact of hybrid work arrangements was the subject of a new report from International Workplace Group (IWG) titled “Advancing Equality: Women in the Hybrid Workplace.”

Among the 1,000 women employees who work in a hybrid set-up, 53 per cent—more than half— say that it allows them to  go after higher positions in their companies. Among minority women, this figure rises to over three-fifths (61 per cent).

Moreover, nearly three-quarters of women from minority backgrounds said the set-up opened new opportunities in their careers that they had no access to in the past.

A full two-thirds (67 per cent) of the respondents to IWG’s study say that hybrid work arrangements aided in leveling the playing field for their career progression.

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An even higher number (70 per cent) say hybrid work created a more inclusive job for them.

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Close to three-fourths (73%) of women from minority backgrounds said that hybrid working opened up new career opportunities previously unavailable to them.

“Women, particularly from a range of diverse backgrounds, are actively shaping their careers around the flexibility that hybrid working offers. This shift is not only enhancing work/life balance but also fostering a wealth of new professional opportunities,” says Fatima Koning, group chief commercial officer at IWG.

One of the biggest advantages of a hybrid work set-up has been a better work-life balance for women, to whom often the bulk of family responsibilities fall. The IWG study shows that a whopping 89 per cent say the hybrid set-up made this possible for them.

“Hybrid work can eliminate or reduce the need for long commutes, providing women with more time and less stress. Improved work-life balance and reduced commuting can contribute to increased job satisfaction, which is beneficial for overall well-being and productivity,” Assistant Professor Vishnu Priya V said in an article posted on LinkedIn last November.

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“Hybrid work can facilitate women’s access to remote learning and educational opportunities, enabling them to upskill or pursue advanced degrees while maintaining their careers,” she added. /TISG

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