The consulting and auditing firm, Deloitte, recently conducted a survey called “Women in Business” which shows the attitudes, beliefs and reasonings of women who run companies or individual sectors in large, small and medium-sized enterprises.
The aim of the research is to shed light on why women in business, particularly in management positions, are still in an unfavourable position compared to men and how this situation can be changed in favour of greater equality for the benefit of the whole community.
Research shows that women in Serbia still have to struggle more than men to get into management positions, are often paid less and are often more exposed to questions about private life and family planning in job interviews.
It is encouraging that 98% of respondents support other female family members in taking on a leadership role in the company where they work. At the same time, they believe that women should be more represented in management positions, but also that there is a significant difference in the management styles between men and women.
When asked who balances work and private life better, only 24% of our respondents think that men perform better, while 44% think that women perform better by maintaining a better work-life balance.
In the business world, some traits are often attributed more to men and others to women. Research participants believe that characteristics such as professionalism, leadership skills, ability to present and participate fairly in board meetings, effective negotiation skills and innovative ideas in most cases characterise both women and men. Women in management positions in Serbia, on the other hand, are more analytical and able to multi-task.
As women are mainly responsible for family and household chores, it is not surprising that more than half of them (51%) believe that work-life balance programmes would lead to more women finding themselves in management positions. Mentoring by experienced board members with talent (46.9%), but also flexible working conditions (42.9%) would contribute to this.
61% of respondents think that women are less likely to decide to become self-employed. However, almost 2/3 do not think that sources of finance are more limited for women than for men (65%), while 24% do. Regardless of all limiting factors, 80% of women would commit to being an independent entrepreneur, while 20% do not see themselves as such.
(Bizlife, 28.10.2021)
https://www.bizlife.rs/deloitte-zene-u-srbiji-teze-dolaze-na-rukovodece-pozicije-i-manje-su-placene/
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