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News
David Woods , 12 Jun 2012
A survey of 300 female entrepreneurs shows the main reason they leave corporate jobs is that they are fed up with the toxic culture, and not with the glass ceiling.
Almost a quarter of participants (23%) cite the culture and values clash as their main reason for leaving, while less than 1% identify the glass ceiling, according to Corporate Crossovers.
Of the 68% of women who earn less than when they were in corporate employment, almost two thirds say they would not go back to corporate life even though they are unhappy with their current income level.
The survey was conducted online and results analysed by Wendy Kerr, a business specialising in advising women who leave the corporate world to run their own business.
Commenting on the findings, Kerr said: "At a certain stage in their lives, women realise that the traditional work in corporate environments doesn't work for them any more. They are tired of putting up with the toxic culture and they start to disengage, valuing their time and autonomy above their salary and job. This is the catalyst for them to leave and set up their own enterprises.
"'What has surprised me about these results is how strongly this theme has played out. Even if they were offered more money to get a corporate job again, most of them would not accept, preferring control of their future, their time and their environment over the cash."
Survey participant Trisha Proud, managing partner at consultancy Partners in Solutions, added: "After a hugely successful career I decided to leave and set up my own business because I was fed up and disappointed at people not 'walking the talk' when it came to managing people and truly honouring the values that they regularly spoke about, but didn't necessarily live and breathe on a day-to-day basis. After six years of trading I have no regrets."
Other survey participants echoed this theme. One commented: "There was a disconnect between my values and the corporate world's values' and another said, "I got tired of wasting time on political activity versus actually doing the job."
7 comments on this article |
Male 13 Jun 2012
"Never get into a fight with a woman, they tend not to bluff". Bluffing is much more a part of male instinct, I'm not surprised that women are frustrated by it in a work context. Though from the other side, it always seems to be men who have to understand women - and we've been failing in that effort for quite some time. I'm not pretending to offer solutions, rather 'food for thought'
Mary Fenwick 13 Jun 2012
Thank you for that food for thought. I am the only woman director on one of my boards. It's not an issue in that particular case, perhaps because the board is so diverse in other ways (skin colour, cultural background and sexual orientation). It does get wearing though if I feel, as a woman, that I am the only one raising diversity issues. Do men care too?
Male 13 Jun 2012
For the most part I'd like to say 'Yes' - it might not always occur to some of us to bring it up. I don't bring it up because I don't see it as an issue - I tend to see walking skillsets rather than people/genders/etc (when looking for new employees, anyway) [::not the only thing I look at, but the first thing]. Guys are possibly less likely to 'think' about things, maybe? I wouldn't take it too hard, and hopefully they make up for it in other areas. Side note: interesting research http://worldclassperformance.com/2011/01/do-you-work-with-a-psychopath/
Merilyn 13 Jun 2012
I agree with Jane that the corporate culture is a turn off. It seems that all large (and some small) organisations have "clique" culture, favouritism, and game players. Bluffing doesn't come near to it. So called management skills go out of the window when the head of HR is sleeping with the Director.
Chris Wheeler 19 Jun 2012
As someone who set off on their own, I am not sure if gender/skin colour/ethnicity plays any part in the decision. Working for a larger company requires that you generate an income/save much more than you earn. Anyone with their eyes open must be asking themselves if they could keep some of that "excess" for themselves.....why are there not MORE entrepreneurs, male or female, black or white? One of the great attractions of working for your own company is that YOU make the decisions about strategy, spending, and of course hiring.
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