Supporting Gender Differences in the Workplace

1 May

Every employee deserves to feel seen, supported, and empowered to thrive. Creating an inclusive and equitable culture starts with understanding the unique challenges faced by different gender groups — and actively working to address them.

While some gendered experiences in the workplace are well known, they still persist. Women continue to face systemic bias, unequal opportunities for progression, and an unequal share of caregiving responsibilities. The AXA Mind Health Report 2025 found that just 16% of women report “flourishing” mental health, compared to 26% of men.

Men, meanwhile, often face stigma in female-dominated industries like education, nursing, and HR. Many report feeling isolated or unsupported when requesting flexible working or parental leave. And cultural norms around masculinity continue to discourage men from seeking help for their mental health.

For non-binary and gender-diverse employees, the challenges can be even greater - from exclusion and micro-aggressions to underrepresentation in leadership and decision-making roles.

Understanding these nuanced experiences is the first step. The next? Taking action to create a culture where everyone can flourish.