Are workplaces changed by the appointment of a senior woman to the management team and if so how?

[LBP]

I work in what was until recently a male-dominated field. Now several years after appointing a number of junior women we are in a position whereby a quarter of the staff (myself included) are about to embark on or are currently taking maternity leave or have recently returned. This is throwing up a number of issues for our boss (mostly regarding flexible and part time working requests, but also travel requirements related to the job which are difficult to carry out with young children).

Because there is no precedent/previous experience for the organisation to refer to the default response to most requests to adapt or change working practices has been a flat no. Given the number of staff now facing issues of work-life balance a number of us would like to try and establish a more productive dialogue with management around these issues. What do you think is the best way of doing this and, relatedly, what difference do you think it would make having a senior women (with children) within the management team to talk to such issues/requests as and when they arise?

[CogitoErgoSometimes]

The best way to sell any idea in a business situation is to present it as a well thought-out, costed business case that results in a benefit to the company. That means a) present the 'solution' rather than the 'problem', b) point out the advantages to the business, particularly financial ones and c) present it as a coherent group rather than as individuals. Strength in numbers. If what you want is covered by employment regulations then the implications of ignoring those regulations should also be part of the business case. Examples of similar businesses where what you are proposing has worked and worked well should be included. Finally, present your case to the person that can actually make the decision. Don't be fobbed off with someone saying 'that's very interesting and I'll raise it at the next board meeting'... because they will water it down and won't deliver it with anything like your conviction.

Senior women on a management team are likely to have come across similar problems but IME, because they have usually overcome them without assistance, tend to be at a higher pay-grade and able to afford flexible childcare like nannies, it doesn't necessarily mean they are automatically empathetic.

[Sanjeev]

I am about to find out. I work for one of the the biggest IT corporations in the world. It has just appointed a female CEO - the first in it's history. Before this, it was a hugely profitable corporation, driven by profit, its need to please Wall St and a commitment to driving up shareholder dividend with little regard for employee well-being.

Now that there is a woman in charge - I expect it to remain a hugely profitable corporation, driven by profit, its need to please Wall St and a commitment to driving up shareholder dividend with little regard for employee well-being.

Why should anything change, just because she is a woman?