Equality | Motherhood still carries a career penalty, despite perceptions of progress

To mark International Women’s Day, a new report finds men see the parenthood penalty as gender-neutral – despite 69% of women saying mothers are most negatively impacted by reduced visibility.

Almost a quarter (23%) of women who’ve taken parental leave say their career progression slowed as a result, while 20% say they’ve been left out of key decisions.

Research also reveals promotion is still driven by ‘being seen’, with both men and women ranking visibility to senior leadership and constant availability among the most rewarded behaviours. 

HiBob, the company behind Bob, the HR platform transforming how organisations operate in the modern world of work and helping businesses adapt to the age of AI, today releases its fifth annual Women in the Workplace report, revealing a significant disconnect between how men and women view the career consequences of parenthood.