Men and women in Czechia want significantly different things from their employers, a new survey from recruitment firm Randstad reveals. The research exposes divides in workplace priorities, persistent gender pay gaps, and a troubling lack of support for working parents – especially mothers – in the Czech job market.
Flexibility versus career growth
If you’re a woman in the workforce, chances are flexibility and work-life balance are non-negotiables. The survey found that 56 percent of women consider balancing professional and personal life “essential” when choosing a job, compared to 45 percent of men. Women are also more likely to seek remote work options – 43 percent versus 28 percent of men.
“In general…women are still the primary caregivers for the family and household, and therefore more often emphasize work flexibility, the possibility of balancing work and personal life, and overall support from their employer,” Andrea Černá, an HR trends expert from Deloitte, told Czech media outlet iDnes.cz.
Men, on the other hand, are more likely to prioritize career growth, financial rewards and incentives, and access to modern technology. The Randstad data shows men place higher value on strong company leadership and professional development opportunities than women do.
Systemic barriers for women
Randstad CEO Martin Jánský pointed to persistent structural issues relating to pay and raising children. He says that women will search for an alternative role “if their current employer pays them less than their colleagues in the same position and if the state does not provide sufficient kindergarten capacities for their children.”
Czechia currently lacks space in kindergartens for up to 40,000 children aged three and four. At the same time, part-time job opportunities are limited, making it more difficult for women to return to work after parental leave.
Diversity, equal pay are far apart
Gender gaps also persist in perceptions of workplace equality. Just 35 percent of men said diversity in teams is important, compared to 53 percent of women. While 45 percent of all employees positively rated their employer’s approach to equality, Jánský acknowledged that “there is still considerable room for improvement.”
Women in Czechia continue to earn an average of 18 to 20 percent less than men. The country ranked 25th out of 27 EU member states in the European Institute for Gender Equality’s 2023 index.