A new study led by Laura Doering, associate professor of strategic management at the University of Toronto, has investigated the differences in women’s experiences with workplace gender discrimination in remote versus in-person settings.
The authors surveyed a sample of nearly 1,100 women who worked in hybrid positions regarding their encounters with gender-related discrimination when working remotely and working in-person. About 31 percent of participants reported past experiences with gender discrimination while working in-person, compared to 17 percent while working remotely. Women who worked primarily with men were more likely to experience gender discrimination in both settings, with 58 percent reporting in-person discrimination and 26 percent reporting remote discrimination. Younger women were also more likely to experience gender discrimination than older women.
The authors conclude these findings suggest remote work could act as a way for women to avoid gender-based discrimination, therefore companies should consider retaining remote work as an option for their employees. However, they stress that remote work is not the solution to eliminating gender discrimination, and managers must take steps to address bias in all work environments.