In this episode of the Lead to Soar Podcast, Michelle Redfern and Mel Butcher examine a pattern that shows up across industries and seniority levels: women being relied on to do work that keeps organisations running but does nothing for career progression.
They focus on office housework and non-promotable tasks — the organising, note-taking, smoothing, fixing, and emotional labour that benefits teams while eroding women’s visibility, scope, and advancement over time.
The discussion covers:
What counts as office housework and why women are more likely to be asked to do it
How this work gets framed as “helpful,” “supportive,” or “being a team player”
The career cost of becoming indispensable in the wrong ways
Practical strategies for declining, redirecting, or re-positioning this work
Michelle and Mel centre judgment, boundaries, and positioning. This is not about refusing to contribute. It is about ensuring effort is invested in work that builds credibility, influence, and opportunity.
This episode is for women asking What should I do next? and for leaders who want to understand how everyday task allocation shapes long-term career outcomes.
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