How the Performance Penalty Hurts Women When Changing Jobs

Women at Work: Career, Leadership & Modern Work · Jul 9, 2026 · 6m · transcript

In this episode of Women at Work with Fexingo, Lucas and Luna explore a subtle career tax that many women face: the performance penalty that hits when they switch jobs. Women often enter new roles with higher expectations to prove themselves, and any early missteps are remembered longer than their male peers' mistakes. Drawing on a 2025 study from the Harvard Business Review, the hosts break down how this penalty shows up in performance reviews and promotion timelines. They discuss why women feel pressured to over-deliver from day one, how managers can unintentionally reinforce the bias, and…