Thirty percent of women say they feel underappreciated at work, compared to just 20 percent of men.
Workers in traditionally female-dominated industries, including healthcare, education, and hospitality, report the lowest levels of workplace appreciation.
This significant gender appreciation gap was highlighted in research from Reward Gateway Edenred.
Researchers said that a key reason women feel underappreciated is that they often feel less recognised by managers and feel they receive less praise. They are also less likely to feel their hard work is adequately rewarded.
The provider’s Appreciation Index shows that women account for more of the workforce in industries such as hospitality, tourism, healthcare and education, which score lower. More men work in financial services, technology and pharmaceuticals, which report some of the highest appreciation levels. The industry differences show a clear gender disparity when it comes to appreciation.
Researchers said underappreciation is a critical issue for employers as workers reported that they are more likely to work harder (88 percent), be more engaged (91 percent), show greater loyalty (88 percent) or take on extra work (73 percent) when they feel appreciated.
Separate research from the provider showed that increased appreciation fuels better business performance. Its Economic Value Study found a 5-7 percent increase in positive business outcomes in companies that had higher employee appreciation.
Narrowing the appreciation gap
Researchers identified three areas that employers can prioritise to narrow the gender appreciation gap. These areas are managerial recognition, organisational reward for hard work and creating a sense of belonging.
Improving managerial recognition and support can make a difference because employees feel most valued when supported and acknowledged by leaders whose recognition and validation will support their careers.
Boosting appreciation at the corporate level, by promoting an inclusive, consistent recognition and rewards system, will help employees feel valued and recognised for their extra efforts, researchers said.
And creating a sense of belonging at work emphasises the importance of relationships, connections and a sense of community. This helps to build employee trust and loyalty, which enhances their commitment to organisational goals. Researchers said that executives generally report a stronger sense of belonging than junior staff, which means employers need to extend their efforts to cultivate this feeling across all levels of the organisation.
Nebel Crowhurst, chief appreciation officer at Reward Gateway, said: “It’s no secret that employers in the UK are suffering from an appreciation crisis, with us lagging behind the US and Australia in our appreciation scores. Within the UK, however, it’s important to shed light on those who are more at risk of feeling underappreciated than others and implement changes to the workplace to help mitigate this.
“Our research also highlights all the positive outcomes, such as increased engagement, productivity and loyalty, associated with employees feeling appreciated. With this in mind, it’s crucial that employers put more emphasis on appreciation within the workplace, especially when it comes to those areas of the workforce that are more at risk of underappreciation such as women, and those working in traditionally female-led industries such as hospitality/tourism, healthcare, and education.
“With this year’s International Women’s Day campaign theme being ‘Accelerate Action’ for gender equality, there could not be a more appropriate time to be talking about the issues raised in the Appreciation Index. According to data from the World Economic Forum, at the current rate of progress, it will take until 2158 to reach full gender parity. That is five generations away – and we need to act now.
“While we are seeing positive movement in this space, such as initiatives aimed at encouraging more women into industries such as financial services, more needs to be done. With traditionally female-dominated industries the most at risk of underappreciation, employers need to make sure they are appreciating and valuing employees at all times. There is a long way to go, and it’s vital that we continue to push forward with the progress already being made.”
