Gillian Harford
Country Executive, 30% Club
While the glass ceiling may be cracking, ‘glass walls’ continue to persist within systems and career paths, reinforcing gender imbalance in higher-value roles and succession to the executive table.
Progress in gender balance at senior levels has been significant, with more women in leadership than ever before. Yet, gaps persist — particularly in mid-career talent pipelines, finance and sales leadership and long-term financial security, with Ireland’s gender pay gap at 10% and its pension gap exceeding 30%. These imbalances stem from structural and cultural norms, outdated policies, and traditional career paths that fail to reflect the needs of today’s workforce.
Care, careers and the changing workforce
New research from the 30% Club and Accenture highlights how care responsibilities are reshaping career choices. Over a third (35%) of men now take on most household care duties, while 37% share them equally with their partner.
Despite this shift, 30% of men and women still view parenting as a barrier to senior roles, rising to 37% for those managing elder care. These findings reinforce the need for workplace policies that support employees’ whole-life needs, rather than relying on outdated career progression models.
Employees today expect
more than inclusion; they want
authenticity, sustainability and choice.
The modern ‘ask’
Employees today expect more than inclusion; they want authenticity, sustainability and choice. They seek environments that value both ambition and flexibility, where career progression doesn’t come at the cost of personal commitments.
Organisations that want a competitive edge are responding with:
- Flatter career structures that prioritise transferable skills
- Policies that are more cohesive around flexibility, care and life goals
- A new focus on ‘Care Economics’ recognising the business case for retention, engagement and productivity
What it means to ‘break glass walls’
Breaking ‘glass walls’ means moving beyond structures shaped by previous generations. With technology, accessibility and modern leadership, organisations have the opportunity to redefine work, creating a more inclusive and sustainable future for all.
Ultimately, it’s the breaking of unseen walls that reflect how our grandparents worked and creating something more reflective of today with new technology, accessibility and broader career opportunities, removing barriers for all to progress.
For more information, visit 30percentclub.org/chapters/ireland/
For the research go to (the link will be available from February 27)
