The consulting manager took a call at 7:30 p.m., while volunteering at her son’s soccer practice, from an employee who felt “on the verge of quitting.” Later that same week, she responded to texts sent at 2 a.m. from team members who could not sleep amid corporate restructuring and AI uncertainty. On Sunday, she sent notes of encouragement before the workweek resumed.

This is the reality of a climate in which expectations for leaders to show humanity, compassion, and empathy have intensified. Across industries, employees are feeling stressed, worried about economic headwinds, and unsure how AI will reshape their jobs. Organizational fear has always existed, but it’s becoming more visible as the pace of change accelerates.

Leaders are expected to steady anxious teams, absorb emotional fallout, and respond to employees’ increasing mental health needs. These expectations are redefining leadership roles. Yet the burden is being shared unequally: Women are carrying a disproportionate amount of caring tasks at work, often at the expense of their own well-being.

Read more at: https://sloanreview.mit.edu/article/the-empathy-tax-female-leaders-pay/