Women in Boardroom hinders female careers

Female employees may find it harder to reach more senior levels if there are already women above them, according to new research.

The survey, published in the Strategic Management Journal and reported on by City AM, analysed the number of women serving on boards of the S&P 1,500 Companies over an extended period of 20 years.

The researchers of the study stated in the paper: “The likelihood that a given position in a top management team is occupied by a woman is lower if another position on the same team is occupied by a woman.” They also commented that there was often an “implicit quota” regarding the amount of women who could take the more senior roles.

Such “implicit quotas” could strengthen the pro-quota argument, following Lord Davies' decision not to implement them following his report last month. Another subsequent report stated that gender balance should be linked to CEOs bonuses.