For South Africa’s high-earning, urban women, the workplace of 2025 isn’t defined by ping-pong tables or free cappuccinos. It’s defined by respect, flexibility, and progress. That’s according to the largest ever survey of working women in South Africa, commissioned by RecruitMyMom.

Speaking on HOT Business with Jeremy Maggs, powered by Standard Bank, RecruitMyMom CEO Phillipa Geard shared startling insights: nearly 50% of professional women are job hunting—not because they want to, but because they’re not being heard. “Women aren’t asking for fewer hours,” she explains. “They want full-time work with flexibility—specifically hybrid working. That doesn’t mean sacrificing productivity or culture—it means adapting how we work.”

Flexibility isn’t just about working from home. It includes varied hours, a mix of remote and in-office days, and creative ways to structure the week. The message is clear: companies unwilling to evolve risk losing their most educated and loyal employees.

And loyalty still matters—women surveyed are likely to stay at a company for up to 10 years, nearly four times longer than the national average, if their needs are met. But once forced back into rigid office routines, that 50% of jobseekers jumps to a staggering 84%.

For female professionals balancing ambition and caregiving, career progression remains crucial—but elusive. With one in four women never promoted, businesses must rethink “growth,” offering skill development and leadership opportunities even within flat structures.

“There is a real return on investment,” says Geard. “Retaining talented women means measurable savings and increased loyalty.”

For the companies bold enough to listen, the payoff could reshape not just the workplace—but the future of business itself.