A staggering 93 percent of women in the marketing and communications industry report that a lack of work-life balance negatively impacts their mental health, according to a comprehensive study conducted by Bloom UK, a professional network for women in the field.
The study, titled “The Juggle,” surveyed over 700 women in advertising, marketing, and communications, making it the largest consultation on women’s work-life balance within the industry.
The findings shed light on the challenges faced by women in this sector, with 54 percent frequently feeling overwhelmed by their workload and one-third having limited or no control over the amount of work assigned to them. The research further unveils that two-thirds of women engage in overtime at least once a week, but only 16 percent express happiness in doing so. Shockingly, 83 percent of respondents reported experiencing physical health issues due to a poor work-life balance, with 43 percent grappling with symptoms of stress, anxiety, or burnout.
The survey intentionally delved into the experiences of a diverse group of women, considering factors such as parental status, ethnicity, sexuality, age, seniority, health conditions, neurodivergence, and perimenopause or menopause.
Intersectional Results:
- Women of Colour: The study found that 41 percent of women of colour feel their work does not allow for a healthy integration of personal and professional life, compared to 31 percent of white women. Over half (54%) of women of color noted a lack of representation or inclusion in decision-making processes compared to their white colleagues.
- Queer Women: Queer women rated their current work-life balance higher than heterosexual women (54% versus 46%). However, 15 percent felt their work-life balance was impacted by their queer identity, and 15 percent reported experiencing microaggressions or stereotypes related to being LGBTQIA+.
- Women with Disabilities or Mental Health Conditions: Two-thirds of women with a disability (66%) or mental health condition (65%) found it challenging to disconnect from work. They were also twice as likely (22%) to state that a lack of work-life balance impacted their mental health in an extreme way compared to those without a condition or disability (11%).
Sector-Specific Breakdown:
- Importance of Work-Life Balance: Ad tech (86%), media owner (83%), media agency (81%), creative agency (81%), in-house (79%), and PR agency (67%).
- Current Satisfaction: Ad tech (57%), in-house (53%), PR agency (50%), media owner (50%), creative agency (38%), and media agency (37%).
- Personal Time Satisfaction: 75% of those in ad tech, 63 percent in-house, and 53 percent in creative agencies expressed satisfaction with personal time outside of work.
Elizabeth Anyaegbuna, Bloom President 2023-24, stated, “The data confirms many women shoulder a disproportionate burden, especially those facing intersectional challenges. The Juggle aims to equip managers and leaders to foster supportive, equitable workplaces. The goals are simple: policies, cultures, and spaces where women can thrive holistically, with their needs understood.”
