Time Use Exercises
STORY
Women in leadership positions often face different challenges than their male counterparts which can lead to additional stress and demands on their time.
From general administrative tasks such as taking meeting notes or organizing company retreats to requests to champion equity, diversity, and inclusion (EDI) initiatives, the additional burden on women can often lead to burnout. This invariably bleeds into the personal experiences of women leaders as well. For example, a recent study published in the American Economic Association Journal found that women are twice as likely than men to go through a divorce after receiving a high-level promotion.
One participant in our research project found that it was an important exercise to conduct a time use study of male and female workers to identify any areas of disparity and correct them. Time use surveys collect information on how employees allocate their time across activities during the day and can provide insights into key gender differences that can lead to disparities in worker experiences, promotions, and self-efficacy in the long-term. Our participants found that this exercise additionally led to increased conversations across their organization, with employees engaging in discourses of the gendered differences found by the exercise.
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