sticky floor
Spilled soda aftermath
A sticky floor is a barrier that keeps people—usually women or minorities—stuck at the bottom of a workplace hierarchy, unable to advance past entry-level positions.
The metaphor contrasts with the glass ceiling, which blocks advancement near the top.
Where a glass ceiling is invisible, a sticky floor suggests being mired in place: She had the qualifications, but a sticky floor kept her in the same role for years.
- tackyVulgar or slightly sticky
- gooeySoft and sticky
- spilled drinkBeverage tipped over accidentally
- spilledAccidentally released liquid
- sodaCarbonated soft drink
syrup · beer · residue · grimy · shoes · bare feet · nightclub · movie theater · cinema · kitchen · mop · cleaning · gross · vinyl · linoleum · squelch · peel · adhering
- pay inequalitypay gap, wage gap, gender pay gap, pay disparity, wage disparity
sticky floorglass ceiling
Unacknowledged limit blocking advancement
upward mobility · career ladder · career advancement · corner office
sticky, floor, stick, stickier, stickiest, stickiness, stickily, floors, floored