What: UN Women's latest report identifies flexible work arrangements as essential for achieving gender equality, with half of women citing flexibility as crucial for remaining in the workforce and addressing the threefold disparity in unpaid care work between genders.

Why it is important: As retailers face a 51% employee turnover rate and only half meet women leadership targets, the connection between workplace flexibility and gender equality becomes crucial for business sustainability and talent retention.

For the first time, gender equality has emerged as a top global concern, ranking alongside healthcare and climate change in importance. UN Women's research exposes a significant imbalance in domestic responsibilities, with women dedicating 4.2 hours daily to unpaid care work compared to men's 1.7 hours. This disparity profoundly affects career progression, with 45% of women reconsidering their positions citing inflexible work arrangements as a primary concern. The study recommends comprehensive workplace reforms, including flexible scheduling, remote work options, and modernised leave policies. Additionally, the report addresses emerging challenges in workplace technology, particularly the need to combat gender bias in AI tools and ensure equal access to leadership development opportunities. These findings demonstrate that achieving gender equality requires fundamental changes in how organisations structure work and support employee needs.

IADS Notes: The UN Women report's emphasis on workplace flexibility aligns with significant retail industry developments. March 2025 data reveals companies with flexible policies achieving a 50% reduction in turnover risk, while rigid structures face mounting challenges. The gender pay gap remains stark, with women earning 83 cents per dollar compared to men, dropping to 73 cents for working mothers. The June 2025 Mobley v. Workday case highlights critical concerns about AI bias in hiring systems, with only 28% of people recognising such bias in technological tools. Leadership representation continues to lag, as only half of major retailers meet the 40% women in leadership target. This gap is particularly significant given that women control 75% of global discretionary spending, making gender equality not just a social imperative but a business necessity.

Flexible work is ‘non-negotiable’ for gender equality, UN Women report says