Both female and male workers report higher job satisfaction when they believe a woman has a chance of becoming a chief executive in the organization. That’s according to a new study co-authored by Michigan State University economist Susan Linz.
“Promoting gender equality at the top has positive consequences for job satisfaction for both men and women,” Linz said. “So it’s worth it for firms to create environments where women have opportunities to advance, as higher job satisfaction means higher productivity, higher revenues and a healthier bottom line.”
Even though both genders report high job satisfaction, men reported higher satisfaction than women.
“We find little evidence that men dislike working for a woman or view women’s advancement to upper-level positions as creating a more competitive work environment,” Linz said.
The study asked 6,500 workers from 700 employers in former socialist—now capitalist—countries how likely a woman could hold the position of director and then linked the employees’ answers to their job satisfaction.
“Even in cultures where women may still not be considered equal, there is a positive link between job satisfaction and perceived gender equality—and it’s particularly strong among the younger generation,” Linz said.
Do you think these findings would hold true in the U.S.?
(photo credit: Alex E. Proimos via photopin cc)
