New Women’s Workplace Survey Sheds Light on Shared Values from All Four Generations

In a groundbreaking exploration of workplace values and priorities, a recent survey about women in the workforce challenges conventional wisdom and sheds light on commonalities and distinctions across generations. Conducted by Fe league, an inclusive community of leaders across industries invested in supporting women, the survey reached 300 women in the workforce across all four generations (Baby Boomers, Gen X, Millennials, and Gen Z), offering unprecedented insights into their expectations, aspirations, and challenges. Contrary to conventional expectations of generational tension in the workplace, the survey uncovers a remarkable unity among women across different age groups. 

For the first time in modern history, all four generations of women are coexisting in the workforce The survey challenged the narrative of generational tension among these working women, presenting a unified front in what women across generations seek in their careers and workplace experiences. 

Key findings from the survey include:

• Societal expectations that influenced respondents’ perception of success transcended generational divides. The most influential societal expectations for all generations revolve around earning a substantial income (68 percent), living a comfortable or lavish lifestyle (66 percent), and earning a high-ranking professional title (55 percent).
• While finding a balance between work and personal life emerged as the most significant personal definition of success for 50 percent of all generations, a noteworthy convergence exists between Baby Boomers and Generation Z, comprising 60 percent of respondents combined, as they uniquely share a common inclination toward defining success by reaching the top of an organization or industry. This shared perspective spans the age spectrum, uniting the oldest and youngest members of the workforce, in contrast to the slightly divergent views held by the generations in between.
• When comparing factors that motivated professional development at the beginning of their careers to now, all women ranked income and career advancement as the most important factors when they began working, but now rank income and work-life balance as the top factors.
• A majority of respondents highlight pay inequity and lack of transparency in salary structure (69 percent) and limited representation of women in decision-making roles and board positions (63 percent) as substantial obstacles in their professional journey.