93% of women say a lack of work-life balance has negatively impacted their mental health.

This staggering statistic is revealed in Bloom UK’s The Juggle research, which surveyed over 700 women working in advertising, marketing and communications. According to Bloom the study is the industry’s biggest consultation into women’s work-life balance through an intersectional lens.

Elizabeth Anyaegbuna, President of Bloom, explained: “The data confirms many women shoulder a disproportionate burden, especially those facing intersectional challenges.”

She continued: “With The Juggle, we aim 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. Most managers want to support their teams. This data will help overcome unconscious biases and drive change. Employees too can advocate more effectively for support by making the business case with the findings from The Juggle.”

While the advertising industry has made strides in raising awareness of mental health issues, Bloom’s research underlines the importance of the lens of intersectionality to drive both understanding and change. 

The report revealed that two thirds of women of colour feel their ethnicity means they face unique challenges or barriers in achieving work-life balance

While more than half (62%) of queer women agree that a lack of work-life balance has negatively impacted their personal relationships. While more than half (47%) of heterosexual women feel that lack of balance has negatively impacted their personal relationships.

Mind the flexibility gap

While London now has a third less childcare places than pre-pandemic, the return to office rhetoric has continued to build momentum. Crushing women’s creative ambitions in the process.

Bloom’s research underlines a ‘flexibility gap’ in the industry. Only half of women (53%) are satisfied with the flexible working arrangements their employer offers currently.

While two fifths of those working in creative agencies (42%) and media agencies (39%) say  work doesn’t allow for a healthy integration of personal and professional life. 

The age of overwhelm

The research reveals that over half (54%) of women frequently feel overwhelmed by their workload. While a third have limited or no control over the amount of work assigned to them. 

Two thirds of women engage in overtime at least once a week, but only 16% say they’re happy to do it. Shockingly, more than four in five (83%) women surveyed said that they have experienced physical health issues as a result of a poor work-life balance, with two fifths (43%) experiencing symptoms of stress, anxiety or burnout. 

The survey also intentionally sought the views and experiences of a diverse group of women. This included parental status, ethnicity, sexuality, age, seniority, whether they have health conditions, are neurodivergent, or are experiencing perimenopause or menopause. 

The importance of intersectionality 

The survey found that two fifths of women of colour (41%) don’t feel their work allows for a healthy integration of personal and professional life, compared to a third (31%) of white women. Moreover, over half (54%) say there’s a lack of representation or inclusion in decision-making processes in comparison to white colleagues. 

The research also reveals that South Asian women are significantly more likely than other ethnic minority groups to frequently feel overwhelmed by their workload, and they’re more likely to say that work doesn’t allow for a healthy integration of personal and professional life. 

On suggesting ways to improve, two-thirds (65%) of women of colour would like to see their employer offer mentorships, coaching or sponsorship programmes for women of colour, and over half (52%) would like to see mandatory cultural sensitivity and diversity and inclusion training rolled out in their workplace.

In contrast, women who identified themselves as queer rated their current work-life balance higher than heterosexual women (54% versus 46% who rate it good or excellent). Moreover, queer women are slightly less likely to frequently feel overwhelmed by their workload, although 51% still do.

However, the research underlined that the workplace isn’t doing enough for queer women; 15% feel their work-life balance is impacted by their queer identity, and 15% have experienced microaggressions or stereotypes related to being LGBTQIA+. 

Bloom UK also found that two thirds of women with a disability (66%) or mental health condition (65%) find it challenging to disconnect from work, compared to half of those without a condition or disability. They are also twice as likely (22%) to say that a lack of work-life balance impacts their mental health in an extreme way, versus those without a condition or disability (11%).

Almost half (46%) of women with non-visible disabilities feel that work doesn't allow for a healthy integration of personal and professional life.

The Ad tech advantage

By industry discipline the research suggests that women in the Ad tech industry enjoy the best work-life balance. Those that rate their current work-life balance as good or excellent: Ad tech (57%), in-house (53%), PR agency (50%), media owner (50%), creative agency (38%), media agency (37%)

When it comes to satisfaction with time for personal time outside of work, 75% of those in ad tech are satisfied or very satisfied, followed by 63% of those working in-house, compared to just 53% of those in creative agencies

Those working in Ad tech are also most likely to state that their  work-life balance is ‘very’ important at 86%. Compared with 83% of those working in media owners, 81% of those working in  media agencies, 81% of those working in creative agencies, 79% of those working in-house and 67% of those in PR agencies.

Bloom’s Anyaegbuna added: “At Bloom, we know that for many women the lines between work and life are increasingly blurred. The demands of careers intertwine in complex responsibilities and identities outside the workplace. That's why we set out to uncover realities and drive positive change around this elusive concept of ‘work-life balance' through our research, The Juggle and we have been intentional in reflecting all voices as best we can to better understand the challenges faced.

Bloom launched the consultation in July 2023. Bloom has consistently urged the industry to get comfortable with uncomfortable conversations in order to drive change.