A good workplace is one in which you can look around and see future versions of yourself. But for women, this exercise in mirroring gets harder and harder as they push toward 40.
That makes sense.
After a certain age, you get tired of struggling for change – you just want change. If you can’t find it on a job, some women – and men – will go out on their own to create the kind of work life they want.
Diversity executives and other organizational leaders have to ensure enterprise culture, infrastructure, policies, performance management, all of these things strongly reflect inclusion.
A lack of flexibility, of meritocracy, of control, of fairness will push a discerning older woman out the door. That’s good for the world of entrepreneurship. Bad for modern workplaces where young girls look around and find they have few female advocates, role models or mentors upon whom they can rely.
Are your HR, talent management strategies amenable to older women? If not, why not?
Kellye Whitney
