“Bit” is the sum of it though. After all, women the world over are still judged on their appearance and disposition as much as their output, and dressing appropriately  (in all its subjective glory) is a minefield.

I am forever on the hunt for the Holy Grail of work dresses: not too long or too short, fitted but not tight, neither busty nor mumsy but age appropriate, and with enough colour to convey “yes I’m a professional, but I’m fun too”. I always know when Whistles has released a gem because it will have sold out moments before popping up on my Instagram feed.

And don’t get me started on weight. A couple of years ago there was an illuminating Economist article on the economics of thinness, sadly pointing to the financial benefits to a woman of being very slender. It almost put me off my croissant. The positive perception of “thinness” clearly disadvantages the gender that grow babies, and whose capricious hormones can otherwise cause weight fluctuations. What’s more, healthy eating and regular exercise are luxuries that time-strapped professional women can often ill afford, or come at the expense of family or social time.

Body image was in the forefront of my mind following a recent wardrobe faux pas. I ran out the door one morning in a just-above-the-knee fitted shift. Only it wasn’t. I realised someway into my commute that, in my 2024 iteration, the dress was closer to bottom and sausage skin-tight. To make matters worse I had a client event that evening, so hiding in my office and sidling off home wasn’t an option. Whilst no one commented on my appearance, being dressed like a salsa dancer certainly fuelled my imposter syndrome.

Expectation surrounding appearance is just one banana skin thrown in the path of professional working women; our biological differences can also disadvantage us.

Harneys recently organised a series of seminars delivered by See Her Thrive on women’s health, specifically menstruation, menopause and the hormones in between, to complement a broader push towards health and wellbeing. To paraphrase several hours of carefully thought-out training, the majority of women with regular cycles are affected by pre-menstrual syndrome, and a notable percentage by the more severe PMDD, both bringing with them behavioural and physical symptoms that can make it much harder for us to get through a typical office working day. This includes (but is by no means limited to) fatigue, concentration difficulties, anxiety, irritability, bloating and pain. Despite being matched in severity to many mental and physical ailments which justify time off, “women’s’ issues” rarely attract the understanding they deserve.

The tide is, however, changing and many organisations like Harneys are increasing awareness of hurdles unique to their female employees, offering guidance on stress and nutrition, adopting policies to allow for flexible working, and no longer distinguishing between types of physical and mental wellness when it comes to sick leave. We also now have “menopause champions” in each of our offices, providing a sympathetic ear and advice on the support available.

Training and simple initiatives like this help to remove the stigma surrounding natural processes that affect half of a firm’s employees. They also make commercial sense, fostering wellness, reducing absenteeism, and attracting loyalty from the people they benefit. I, for one, am certainly more productive at home on the days when I feel under the weather (and inexplicably hate everyone).

Creating an environment where women are judged in the same way and to the same standard as men will take time, but encouraging a culture of understanding is certainly a step in the right direction.

In the meantime, I will revel in my lightweight summer linens.