France study finds remote work hampers women's career advancement

In the post‑COVID era, remote work has become a standard practice across many sectors. Research indicates that women experience distinct career disadvantages when working from home. A survey of French employees shows that roughly two‑thirds regularly telework, yet many still travel to the office to maintain visibility with managers. Managers and recruiters reported that regular office presence positively influences their perception of employee engagement and promotion prospects; 59 % said it affects their assessment of candidates, with 20 % rating the impact as strong. The same trend is evident in the United States, where companies that pushed large‑scale office returns saw a notable loss of female staff, underscoring concerns that telework may impede women's progression. These findings suggest that employer culture and evaluation criteria that prioritize physical presence could reinforce gender disparities in career advancement.