Invisible work, non-promotable tasks, and “volunteer opportunities” (more often volun-told), are an unfortunate reality in the workforce. There are three things every employer should do in relation to these tasks: minimize them, acknowledge them, and distribute them equitably.
Unfortunately, the reality is pretty far from this ideal. Some estimates state up to 75% or more of these time-sucking, minimally career beneficial activities are typically foisted on women in the workplace and are a leading driver behind burnout in female employees. The sinister thing about this is most people are completely blind to these factors; it’s referred to as invisible work for a reason.
Research from Harvard Business Review* found that 44% more requests are presented to women as compared to men for “non-promotable” or volunteer tasks at work. Non-promotable tasks are activities such as planning holiday events, coordinating workplace social activities, and other ‘office housework’ style activities that benefit the office but typically don’t provide career returns on the time invested. The work of the ‘office mom’ often goes unacknowledged or, if she’s lucky, maybe garners some brief lip service. Don’t be that boss that gives someone a 50hr workload task for a 2-second dose of “oh yeah thanks for doing a bajillion hours of work on this thing I will never acknowledge again and won’t help your career.” Yes, that’s a thing. Don’t do it. If you do it, don’t be surprised when you have more vacancies than staff. You brought that on yourself.
There is a lot of top-tier talent out there in the market right now. To be competitive, consider implementing some culture renovations so you can have a more equitable, and therefore more attractive, work culture to retain your top talent.
What we want to do:
- Identify and minimize invisible work in your organization
- Acknowledge the work that can’t be avoided. Get rid of the blind part.
- Distribute the work equitably.
Here is a simple example:
Step 1: Set up a way for staff to anonymously bring things to your attention. Perhaps a comment box. Encourage staff to bring unsung heroes in the office to your attention. Things they wish their peers or they themselves received acknowledgment for.
Step 2: Read them and actually take them seriously. Block out some time on your calendar and give it your full attention.
For the sake of demonstration, let’s say someone leaves a note about how Caroline always tidies up the breakroom at the end of the day and cleans the coffee pot with supplies Caroline brings from home. Now that we have identified a task, we are going to acknowledge it, minimize it, and consider the distribution of labor.
Step 3: Thank Caroline at the team meeting for scrubbing yesterday’s burnt coffee out of the bottom of the pot every day. Don’t gloss over it. Make the acknowledgment mean something. Buy her some chips out of the vending machine or something. The smallest gestures can have the biggest impact when coupled with actual change.
Step 4: Remind your staff to clean up after themselves. Caroline isn’t their mom. If you have to, enforce it.
Step 5: Put it in the office budget to provide adequate cleaning supplies for the break room and review your custodial needs. This isn’t part of Caroline’s job description and she could be putting that energy towards something else. Find the why of the situation and address it.
You might be rolling your eyes at me by now, but the toll of this unpaid invisible work has real costs. According to the 2021 Women in the Workplace Report* the ladies are carrying the team, but getting little to none of the credit. Burnout is real and ringing in at an all-time high across every sector of the economy. To be short, women are sick and tired of getting the raw end of the deal, and after 2 years of pandemic life bringing it into ultra-sharp focus, are doing something about it. In the report, 40% of ladies were considering jumping ship. Data indicates that a lot of them not only manned the lifeboats but landed more lucrative positions than they left. Now is the time to score and then retain top talent. However, it is up to you to make sure you are offering an environment worth working in.
*Note: the studies cited here do not differentiate non-cis-identifying persons. It is usually worse for individuals in the LGBTQIA+ community.
Ken Brand
March 23, 2009 at 2:06 pm
Yes exactly.
Nice to see passion about life and people and home mixed like a fine Mojito. The older I get the more I realize, as you’ve shared, everything is rarely about what it’s about, it’s bigger and juicier.
Amen.
Ines Hegedus-Garcia
March 23, 2009 at 3:34 pm
Ken – you are just too cool – “mixed like a fine mojito”…isn’t that what it is ALL ABOUT?
Real Estate Feeds
March 23, 2009 at 6:58 pm
Real Estate = Life: Get out of your feed reader and comment on this post- we PROMISE that the ShamWow guy won\’t.. https://tinyurl.com/cgk976
Mark Eibner
March 23, 2009 at 7:16 pm
we’re at it again Real Estate = Life: Get out of your feed reader and comment on this post- we .. https://tinyurl.com/cgk976
sheilabragg
March 23, 2009 at 8:29 pm
Real Estate = Life: Get out of your feed reader and comment on this post- we PROMISE that the ShamWow guy won\’t.. https://tinyurl.com/cgk976
Brad Nix
March 23, 2009 at 8:45 pm
I couldn’t agree more Ines about your real estate=relationships=life message (of course I’m cool with you digging REtechSouth as well), but most importantly LIFE and the relationships we create, strengthen and enjoy matter most. So glad we got to meet IRL last week and I look forward to seeing you again (rachel says hi too).
Ines Hegedus-Garcia
March 23, 2009 at 9:06 pm
Brad – you did a heluva job and thanks for letting me be a part of it – as for Rachel, she rocks (and as our friend Bill Lublin would say….I think you married over your head) 😉
Chris Shouse
March 23, 2009 at 9:40 pm
You are so right Ines it is all about the relationships and I am to this day friends with almost all of my clients. It makes my heart smile to see a house made into a home. Can not wait to meet you IRL.
Ines Hegedus-Garcia
March 23, 2009 at 9:42 pm
I hope it will happen soon Chris! What’s great about this medium is that you can tell right away who really cares and who has pure intentions – can’t get better than that!
Tina in Virginia
March 24, 2009 at 6:09 am
Ines, your passion is what makes you the wonderful person you are. What a wonderful, from the heart post. It was great seeing you at RETech South and I hope to see you again soon.
Ines Hegedus-Garcia
March 24, 2009 at 10:31 am
Tina – you are so sweet, it was awesome to see you as well and I’m sure we will run into each other soon 😉
Kathleen Buckley
March 24, 2009 at 3:12 pm
Ines- Thank you for articulating this! So often agents are viewed as cut throat and self-centered. You are a prime example to the contrary!
Teresa Boardman
March 25, 2009 at 8:02 am
Honestly I think it was one of the best conferences i ever went too. very well organized and a lot of variety. I came away feeling inspired and really enjoyed the time we all spent together after hours.
I have never driven to a conference before and that also turned out to be an amazing and memorable experience.
ines
March 25, 2009 at 8:16 am
Kathleen, that means a lot to me, thank you – it’s crazy how a “technical” conference can leave you with such basic humane principles (Jeff Turner’s presentation about the computer being a MORON was the highlight)
T – could it have been Jack being present? (hmmmm)
Jay Thompson
March 25, 2009 at 8:19 am
Great post Ines. I just got back from NAR’s Association Executive Institute where the highlight was getting to meet Mariana IRL. Met several others too at a Tweet Up and got to revisit some old friends. It was fabulous.
That note from your client/friend is priceless.
Great photo too! Could be the cover shot of the “Women of Real Estate” calendar… 😉
ines
March 25, 2009 at 8:25 am
Lucky you Jay, I’ve been dying to meet Mariana and Derek and can’t believe we have not crossed paths yet (but will soon, I’m sure). That note from our client made me cry (and they know it) It’s amazing when you can make such a great connection with someone online from the start.
As for the calendar….what are you guys up to?
Paula Henry
March 25, 2009 at 9:49 am
Ines – This post sums up what life in real estate is really about – the relationships are what matters. Our clients know when we care; as displayed by the wonderful note you received form your client.
Some day I will meet all of you!
ines
March 25, 2009 at 11:27 am
Paula – I am looking forward to meeting you as well (I’m sure it will be soon)
Teresa Boardman
March 25, 2009 at 2:03 pm
@Ines love your post on ag https://bit.ly/Kf41h
Jeff Turner
March 25, 2009 at 2:11 pm
RT @TBoard: @Ines love your post on ag https://bit.ly/Kf41h (I’ll second that)
RE Success Club
March 25, 2009 at 2:18 pm
RT @TBoard: @Ines love your post on ag https://bit.ly/Kf41h …check out the passion in the client’s testimonial…inspiring.
Mack
March 25, 2009 at 2:06 pm
This past week I met a really nice lady at RETechSouth. She had a wonderful smile, was a great conversationalist, unselfishly shared her knowledge of social media and I am proud to say: wrote this post.
ines
March 25, 2009 at 3:07 pm
Hi Mack!! it was such a pleasure to meet you! (thanks for that btw – are you trying to make me cry…..we leos are very emotional)
stevenstearns
March 25, 2009 at 5:40 pm
Real estate is about LIVES, not just the market: https://ping.fm/Sb0S7 via agent Genius
Brenda Carus
March 25, 2009 at 7:18 pm
RT @stevenstearns: Real estate is about LIVES, not just the market: https://ping.fm/Sb0S7 via agent Genius [True]
Bobbi Blades
March 28, 2009 at 11:16 am
I sit in my office today pulling together a new presentation on Social Media and how it will affect our business. You guys are incredible. You’ve reaffirmed my own belief in how social networking online won’t take the place of real time voice and physical contact but, instead, will enhance it.
How many times have we all said “I wish so and so was here to share this with.” Now, they can be.
If you could give me, in one sentence, single most important feature to social media communication to you personally and in your business, I sure would appreciate it.
ines
March 28, 2009 at 5:36 pm
Bobbi – thank you so much and as for the single sentence: The single most important feature to social media communication to me and my business is the connections I make on a daily basis that i would not otherwise be able to achieve, whether by blog, video, chat – powerful medium!