An American data scientist quit her job at Facebook after her request to work remotely and part-time to bond with her newborn baby was denied. The case highlights — once again — why it is so difficult to ensure more women advance up the corporate ranks. Eliza Khuner did not go quietly: she let colleagues know and voiced her discontent in an opinion column for Wired, the technology magazine.

While Facebook is not commenting on the case, others have. Many are questioning whether anyone can reframe the traditional relationship between working hours, location and output, if even an intrinsically innovative organisation such as Facebook apparently cannot. Sheryl Sandberg, the social media group’s chief operating officer, is, after all, an influential and vocal supporter of women’s contribution to the workplace.

Lack of flexible working opportunities is often cited as one reason behind women’s thinning presence in senior jobs — the closer the corporate ladder gets to senior management offices, the more women fall off it. Part-time jobs are still scarce and account for only 16.5 per cent of total employment across OECD countries. Improving this would not just help women. As societal norms evolve, priorities for work-life balance are shifting for both genders.