What is it about?
In this chapter I explore why a group of women taking part in my research project on career shocks, decided to ‘step off’ their career ladders. Applying the lens of conservation of resources theory, I explore how a lack of access to appropriate coping resources impacted the women’s decisions to ‘step off’ their management career ladders and seek out alternative career options.
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Why is it important?
With a growing recognition of the business case for having women at senior levels in organisations this chapter provides insights into how both organisations and individuals may incorporate career shocks into their career development plans.
Perspectives
Despite growing numbers of women participating in the workplace the number of women in senior management positions is still surprising low. Applying the lens of conservation of resources theory, in this chapter, I present the experiences of a group of women who lost valued resources as a result of career shocks. Their experiences resulted in the women opting to ‘step off’ their career ladders rather than continuing in their management positions. In the chapter, I put forward recommendations to support women incorporating career shocks into their personal career development planning and also to support organisations to incorporate career shocks into their talent retention planning.
Angela Mazzetti
Newcastle University
Read the Original
This page is a summary of: Stepping off the career ladder: exploring the impact of career shocks on womens career decisions in the UK, May 2020, Edward Elgar Publishing,
DOI: 10.4337/9781789901504.00017.
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