Russian business women see cracks in glass ceiling

A recent survey by PricewaterhouseCoopers and the Russian Managers Association found  that the number of women occupying senior positions in Russian business increased over the last three years, particularly in finance and personnel departments.

Conducted in January and February this year, the survey, “Career Opportunities for Women in Business,” noted that women now make up a large portion of chief accountants (93 percent), human resources senior managers (70 percent) and chief financial officers (48 percent).

Despite the increased figures, the survey also found that the number of Russian  business women in senior management positions such as president and general director still remains low.

Yet the findings are still more upbeat than the last report published a year ago. This year, the number of Russian business women leaving their posts was smaller than the number of women appointed to senior posts. Last year the two figures were equal.

Conveying a certain shift toward a more unified working environment, the survey found that the most sweeping benefits introduced for Russian business women were flexible working hours and family medical insurance.