How can flexible work be prevented from becoming a career penalty for women?

Correct answer: By keeping equal promotion rules based on performance

Flexible work can help people manage employment along with family responsibilities, health needs, study, or other duties. However, it becomes a career penalty if workers who use flexibility are assumed to be less committed, denied important assignments, paid less unfairly, or overlooked for promotion. A fair workplace should judge the quality, results, skills, and responsibilities of work rather than the employee’s approved working arrangement. Equal opportunity must apply to flexible and non-flexible workers alike.

Option D is correct because performance-based promotion rules can protect career growth while allowing flexibility. The rules should be clear, consistent, and applied to everyone, with access to training, challenging work, feedback, and leadership opportunities. Options A, B, and C would create discrimination: removing flexible workers from promotion, labelling their work as low-skill, or cutting their wages. Those measures would turn a useful arrangement into punishment, exactly what the question asks us to prevent.