Women tend to help out more in the office than men do — but they benefit significantly less, according to an article in The New York Times by Sheryl Sandberg and Adam Grant.
It is typically expected that women will help out at the office. Women are more likely to be seen as selfish if they decline volunteer, while men are simply seen as "busy," the authors wrote. If men help at all, they are seen as "better." In a study, men were seen 14 percent more favorably than women when both genders stayed late to help a coworker prepare for a meeting. Women in the study who declined to help were seen as 12 percent less favorable than men who declined, according to the report.
Ms. Sandberg and Mr. Grant suggest the following four ways to improve the balance of "office housework" between men and women.
1. Keep track of acts of helping. Just as managers would track, acknowledge and reward performance, acts of helping, such as volunteering and mentoring, should also be tracked, acknowledged and rewarded.
2. Assign communal tasks rather than relying on volunteers. A study cited in the report found women are still frequently expected to take notes, answer phones and bring the snacks to meetings in the business, law and science sectors. However, these opportunities are time-consuming and can cause women to miss other opportunities, the authors wrote. By assigning these communal tasks, rather than relying on volunteers, leaders can ensure both men and women are helping out equally.
3. Encourage employees to prioritize their own needs first. "For every 1,000 people at work, 80 more women than men burn out — in large part because they fail to secure their own oxygen masks before assisting others," the authors wrote. Women should be encouraged to prioritize their own needs along with the needs of others. They will find they have more time to help.
4. Draw attention to female voices. Men don't necessarily need to quiet down for women. However, instead of interrupting or dominating meetings, they can draw attention to female ideas and accomplishments.
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