New Leadership Poll Reveals Women Carry Majority of Emotional Labour at Work

Brisbane, Australia — March 2026

A new leadership poll has revealed that many professionals believe women are carrying the majority of emotional labour inside modern workplaces.

The poll, conducted by leadership expert and CEO of LeadershipHQ and Women Leaders, Sonia McDonald, asked leaders a simple question:

"In your organisation, who carries most of the emotional labour in leadership?"

The results highlight a significant leadership dynamic.

Out of 133 respondents:

65% said mostly women

18% said it is shared equally

7% said mostly men

11% were unsure

The findings suggest that women may be performing a disproportionate share of the relational work that helps organisations function, work that is rarely formally recognised.

Emotional labour in leadership can include:

• mediating conflict between colleagues
• mentoring struggling employees
• supporting team members through stress or change
• maintaining morale during high-pressure periods
• managing interpersonal tension inside teams

According to McDonald, this work is essential to organisational stability but often remains invisible.

"Emotional labour is the invisible work that stabilises teams, manages tension, and sustains trust," said McDonald.
 

"Yet it is rarely captured in job descriptions or performance metrics."

McDonald says the results do not assign blame, but instead highlight a leadership issue many organisations overlook.

"The goal isn't to criticise organisations. The goal is visibility," she said.
 

"If emotional labour isn't recognised, organisations risk overlooking one of the most important forces shaping leadership effectiveness."

The findings come as workplaces face increasing complexity, with leaders navigating hybrid work, economic uncertainty, and rising expectations around psychological safety.

McDonald believes the conversation is particularly relevant ahead of International Women's Day, which often focuses on representation in leadership roles.

"Representation matters, but we also need to examine what work leaders are actually doing inside organisations," McDonald said.

She says the next step for organisations is to begin recognising and measuring relational leadership behaviours.

"Leaders today are not just managing tasks. They are managing human dynamics.
And that work deserves to be seen."

McDonald is the founder and CEO of LeadershipHQ & Women Leaders, leadership development organisations and communities that work with leaders across Australia and internationally.

Media Contact
Sonia McDonald
CEO & Founder, LeadershipHQ & Women Leaders
Global Keynote Speaker & Leadership Expert
https://womenleadersco.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/soniamcdonald/