Debbie Crosbie highlights the potential downside of remote work for women’s promotion prospects in senior roles.

The chief executive of Nationwide, Debbie Crosbie, has raised concerns that working from home could negatively impact women’s career advancement, as they are less likely to attend the office compared to their male counterparts. Crosbie, speaking to BBC Radio 4’s Today programme, warned that while flexible working has benefited many women, particularly those balancing work and childcare, it could ultimately hinder their chances of securing senior positions.

Nationwide, the UK’s largest building society, which serves over 17 million customers and employs around 18,000 people—60% of whom are women—introduced a “work anywhere” policy during the pandemic for non-branch staff. However, this policy was revised a year ago, with staff now required to work in the office at least two days per week.

Crosbie explained that the flexibility brought about by the pandemic had been a positive development, particularly in allowing employees to work from home more easily. However, she cautioned that women might face career disadvantages as a result of the trend. “The challenge we face at Nationwide is that men are more likely to come into the office than women,” she said. “We need to ensure that women don’t miss out on vital opportunities for professional development by being less visible in the workplace.”

Reflecting on her own career, Crosbie shared how her early experiences shaped her approach to leadership. She recalled working under Lynne Peacock, the former CEO of Clydesdale Bank, who she described as a “very inspiring female CEO”. Crosbie said she felt fortunate to be in an executive role when she had her daughter at the age of 32, as it allowed her the flexibility to balance work and family life, benefiting from the support of leaders who permitted her to work part-time for a few years.

Crosbie also pointed out a trend among women today: they are increasingly having children later in life, often in their late 30s, which coincides with the period when many people are expected to move into more senior executive roles. This delay, she suggested, could present challenges for women aspiring to top leadership positions.

Despite the progress made in gender equality within business leadership, as evidenced by the latest FTSE Women Leaders Review, which found that 42% of directors at FTSE 350 companies are women—up from under 10% before 2011—Crosbie emphasised that much work remains. The review also revealed that only 21 women currently serve as CEOs of FTSE 350 companies, with just 10 leading FTSE 100 firms.

While acknowledging the progress made, Crosbie stressed the importance of continuing to push for greater representation of women in executive roles. “We’ve made enormous strides, but there’s still a long way to go,” she said, underscoring the need to build a stronger pipeline of senior women to ultimately increase the number of female CEOs in the UK.