Brazilian Women in Corporate Leadership Face Higher Burnout Rates
Women now hold a record share of senior leadership roles in Brazil’s mid‑size companies, reaching 36.7% in 2025, according to Grant Thornton’s Women in Business report – above the 34% global average. At the same time, data from the Ministry of Social Security show that women accounted for almost two‑thirds of all sick‑leave benefits for mental‑health disorders, with 346,613 women versus 199,641 men receiving such benefits in 2025. Burnout cases were even more skewed, with 5,413 women and 2,185 men, meaning women made up roughly 71% of burnout‑related leave.
Experts say the rise in female leadership has not been matched by changes in workplace management. Business consultant Flávio Lettieri argues that many firms still reward constant availability – long hours, rapid responses and uninterrupted presence – a model that disproportionately burdens women, who also shoulder a larger share of family responsibilities, according to IBGE household survey data.
Entities: Flávio Lettieri · Grant Thornton · Ministry of Social Security (Brazil) · Women in Brazil
Claims
What the coverage asserts, and how well corroborated each claim is across sources.
- [● 3 SOURCES] The global average of women in senior leadership positions is 34%. (Grant Thornton Women in Business 2025 report)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Traditional management models that reward constant availability disproportionately affect women. (Flávio Lettieri, business consultant)
- [● 3 SOURCES] In 2025, 346,613 women were granted sick‑leave benefits for mental and behavioral disorders. (Ministry of Social Security data)
- [● 3 SOURCES] IBGE household survey data shows women bear a larger share of family responsibilities. (IBGE National Household Sample Survey)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Women occupy 36.7% of senior leadership positions in mid‑size Brazilian companies in 2025. (Grant Thornton Women in Business 2025 report)
- [● 3 SOURCES] 5,413 women were granted sick‑leave benefits for burnout in 2025, versus 2,185 men. (Ministry of Social Security data)
- [● 3 SOURCES] In 2025, 199,641 men were granted sick‑leave benefits for mental and behavioral disorders. (Ministry of Social Security data)
- [● 3 SOURCES] Women accounted for about 71% of burnout‑related sick‑leave cases in 2025. (Ministry of Social Security data)