Is Flexible Workspace the Next Step to Cracking The Glass Ceiling? Flexibility is about more than being a part-time worker with the requisite drop in salary or full-time with the occasional day working from home

By Harsh Lambah

Opinions expressed by Entrepreneur contributors are their own.

You're reading Entrepreneur India, an international franchise of Entrepreneur Media.

Shutterstock.com

A good work/life balance is something that most professionals will admit is key to their happiness and enjoyment of their roles. But finding that balance isn't just about avoiding long hours at work, it's about building a culture in your business that is open-minded, avoids "presenteeism' and puts flexible working at its heart.

50per cent of employees globally are now working outside of their main office headquarters for at least 2.5 days a week and 85per cent confirm that productivity has increased in their business as a result of greater flexibility.

Inclusive Environments Boost Profit

Interestingly, businesses that favour inclusion policies are proven to be more successful. According to a McKinsey report in 2017, companies in the top quartile for gender diversity on their executive teams were 15per cent more likely to experience above-average profitability compared to those in the fourth quartile.

It's no coincidence that businesses are losing talented female professionals in their 30s and early 40s, just at the point when many are starting families. The two are inextricably linked – and if it continues to be so, business opportunities to grow, from diversity, inclusion and profits perspective, will be stunted. Now more so than ever before, people want to work with businesses that reflect and champion their own ethos – diversity matters, and more people than ever are questioning the status quo if it is not being practiced by their employers.

Flexible Working is More Than Just "Part-time'

Returning mothers can greatly benefit from flexible working as they juggle a career and young children. In India, 85per cent of business people thinks that flexible working helps to keep mothers in the workforce, who would otherwise have stepped away from their roles.

So what does flexibility actually look like in this case? Flexibility is about more than being a part-time worker with the requisite drop in salary or full-time with the occasional day working from home, which can be difficult to justify when work gets busy and "face-time' is considered more important – it's about a truly flexible work environment.

Rather than sticking rigidly to the idea of either full time or part time, there are newer working models that many women are taking advantage of, such as job-sharing, where one full-time position is filled by two or more people working on a part-time basis. Employers can support employees to develop a workable system for both parties, which in return can bring two sets of skills and experience combined into one role, whilst also providing the flexibility desired for the individuals.

Paving the Way for Better Female Representation in Business

With the gender pay gap issue recently seeing its second year of reporting by businesses, we're still seeing a worrying trend that talented women are struggling to be promoted and the pay disparity that coincides with this is clear. The Bankwest Curtin Economics Centre's Gender Equity Insights report found that a combination of employer-funded paid parental leave, equal female board representation, on-site childcare, and flexible work arrangements were key to keeping mothers in the workforce.

The stigma that comes with the phrase "part-time" – insinuating a lack of commitment and responsibility – need not apply. Businesses would do well to champion inclusive environments where everyone is valued for the contribution they make, rather than the time spent at their desk. Promoting women provides an enormous economic opportunity that many companies are at risk of missing out on if they continue to focus on presence over productivity.

Harsh Lambah

Country Manager India, IWG

Health & Wellness

How Mastering Your Nervous System Boosts Leadership Presence and Performance

Discover a modern leadership system designed to boost your effectiveness, reduce stress and bring more clarity and joy to how you lead.

Business News

Here Are the 10 Highest-Paying Jobs with the Lowest Risk of Being Replaced By AI: 'Safest Jobs Right Now'

A new report from career resources platform Resume Genius finds the top 10 AI-proof careers expected to see the most growth within the next decade.

News and Trends

India to Lead the Next AI Wave, First-Mover Companies Have the Edge: Experts

Indian startups are uniquely positioned to lead this revolution given their talent density, cost advantages, and global mindset. Vertical AI adoption is also accelerating rapidly across industries due to a convergence of data, compute affordability, and enterprise readiness.

Science & Technology

How I Went From Side Hustle to 7 Figures Using These 4 AI Tools (No Tech Skills Needed)

Scale faster, work less and grow a 7-figure business — no team needed.

Leadership

5 Lessons I Wish I Didn't Learn the Hard Way During My 20 Years in Business

Starting a business has been one of the most exciting and fulfilling chapters of my life — but it's also been unpredictable, humbling and often much harder than it looks from the outside. Here are a few pieces of hard-earned wisdom I wish I'd known from day one.

Business Ideas

70 Small Business Ideas to Start in 2025

We put together a list of the best, most profitable small business ideas for entrepreneurs to pursue in 2025.