Women face the 'glass cliff'

Women are far more likely to be given difficult jobs than men, it was claimed today.

"It seems that if the company is in crisis, then managers always turn to women as a kind of last resort. Male managers seem to think women are better at dealing with a crisis," he said.

"This is just the latest example of discrimination in the workplace. Although women are beginning to break through the glass ceiling, there is this new wave of subtle sexism. Women are getting these jobs, but it is a real poisoned chalice. It is definitely more of a glass cliff."

The professor based his conclusion on research in which more than 300 people were interviewed and shown a male and female CV before being asked to choose a candidate. If the job was in a successful company most chose the male candidate, while if the company was failing women were chosen.

"We have found evidence of this in every company we have looked at," said Professor Haslam, speaking at the BA Festival of Science in Exeter. "There seems to be an unwritten law that says 'think female, think crisis'. If a company is doing well, then the 'jobs for the boys' rules still apply, but if it is in trouble, no man wants to give the job to their friends it seems, so for many the answer is to get in a woman."

The researchers also found that men denied the existence of the glass cliff.

"This is something almost every woman will seem to identify with, but we found men simply refuse to believe it. This is a big problem, and we are working with the Chartered Institute of Personnel Development to try and raise awareness of the problem. But it is very hard to do anything about it."

The researchers analysed data from recent Scottish elections and found women were put forward for marginal, difficult to win seats, while only men stood in safe seats.

The team also analysed hundreds of legal cases, finding that hard-to-win cases were generally given to female lawyers, along with those where the client was unlikely to pay on time.

"The evidence from online surveys with hundreds of senior managers was also very telling, " said Professor Haslam.

"People's reaction to this research has also been fascinating. Women can come up with dozens of examples, and are intrigued by how it affects their career prospects.

"Men, on the other hand, dismiss it as rubbish and refuse to believe this exists, despite the overwhelming evidence we have already collected. This is real science, and it is something these male senior managers need to take note of."