⚠️ 𝗦𝗵𝗲 𝗿𝘂𝗻𝘀 𝗼𝗽𝘀. 𝗕𝘂𝘁 𝘀𝗵𝗲’𝘀 𝘀𝘁𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝗼𝗼𝗸𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗖𝗵𝗿𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗺𝗮𝘀 𝗱𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗲𝗿.
Still ordering the card. Still buying the gift. Still organising the team lunch.
And it’s not just her.
It’s women in almost every office. In every industry. In every leadership role.
I’ve seen female Heads of HR being asked to “sort something festive.”
Marketing leads being told, “You’re good with details - can you organise the off-site?”
Exec assistants quietly expected to handle birthdays, morale, comms, AND admin while the men stay focused on strategy.
And it’s subtle, right?
No one says it’s gendered.
But when was the last time a male director was asked to “get a card signed”?
Or to “do something nice for the team”?
Here’s the truth:
↳ Women are still doing the emotional labour and the unpaid admin.
↳ The tasks no one tracks but everyone benefits from.
↳ The ones that quietly kill focus, stretch time, and delay visibility.
And men? You benefit.
Because no one expects you to do it.
Because someone else always picks it up.
Because “that’s just her thing” - until it costs her time, her credibility, or her promotion.
So, whats the solution?
Gender equality is more than just pay. Its about everyday behaviours.
Start noticing who keeps the culture running.
Start asking why it’s always her.
And next time there’s something to organise?
Don’t delegate it to the only woman in the room.
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Founder of HR Habitat, award winner of "Best HR & Employment Law Consultancy, 2024" title. As featured in BBC Oline, BBC Asian Network Radio, Telegraph & more.
