Member Article

'Glass cliff' not just stopping women

Women aren’t the only ones who suffer from the hidden factors of the ‘glass cliff’, according to new research. Other groups including those based on age, disability, religion, ethnicity, and parental status face similar challenges, a new study from the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD) shows.

The ’Managing diversity and the glass cliff’ report looks at the nature and causes of the ‘glass cliff’ and shows how the problems in career advancement for members of other diverse groups, can be even more acute than they are for women. An online survey of employees from diverse backgrounds in the UK and USA showed that only 19% of respondents said they feel it is easy to get ahead and that leadership positions are open to them. Over half of the respondents said they felt they had to take risks to get ahead.

Dianah Worman, CIPD Diversity Adviser, said: “The ‘glass cliff’ is not specific to women but also affects those who do not meet the standard idea of a heterosexual, white male workforce. “This new research helps us to better understand why the representation of diverse groups declines higher up the career ladder and why simply seeking to fix the numbers through targets, will not deliver lasting results in creating a more diverse workforce.

“We cannot and should not depend on legislation as the only lever for making progress. Research shows that leading edge employers on diversity don’t just seek to comply with the law but tailor good employment and working practices to support business goals.”

This was posted in Bdaily's Members' News section by Ruth Mitchell .