MIT study: men reap greater benefits when they support co-workers, compared to women
Welcome to the bi-weekly update (#180) where we dive deeper into key topics, themes or issues specific to women and their lived experience.
According to new research by MIT Sloan Management Review, men may be rewarded more for supporting their colleagues, than women.
Men received scores that were 11% higher than women, even though women tended to put in the same or more effort.
However, there was a difference in the type of support provided. Whilst women provided more ‘emotional’ or ‘esteem’ support, men tended to provide more ‘social’ or ‘career’ support which was valued more highly.
According to Nancy Baym, a senior principal research manager at Microsoft Research and co-author of the study:
‘…(organisations).. should reexamine how they define, encourage, identify, and reward socially supportive behaviours at work’
Also, creating a better culture that rewards all employees for supporting their co-workers could also help companies retain talented female employees.
Research indicates that women’s contribution at work is often underestimated. Women’s communication styles, values and approach may differ to the ‘default male’. And it is therefore no surprise they can be misunderstood or simply under-appreciated in the workplace.
And this is not even taking into account the gender pay gap and the gender bonus gap which affects women’s earnings, their net worth and ultimately exposes them to greater financial risk over their lifetime.
Company culture will start to shift once board rooms and C-suites achieve gender balance. And women are valued for their complementary contribution.
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