It seems the higher women climb the corporate ladder, the larger the gender gap below them becomes. Women currently hold just 5 percent of CEO positions at companies that rank on this year’s Fortune 1,000 list. However, one of the driving forces behind an increasing gender gap in corporate America isn’t in those leadership roles, but rather the employees that work for them.

According to a recent poll by Gallup, a research-based global performance management consulting company, employees of both genders prefer male bosses to female bosses. The findings also reveal that of the 60 percent that do have a preference, 40 percent of women prefer a male boss.

The findings are based on Gallup’s work and education poll conducted in August 2014. It reveals that women have more of an opinion about the gender of their boss. Just 34 percent said they were indifferent on the gender of their boss, compared to 58 percent of men who said the same. Then again, 25 percent of women, versus 14 percent of men, said they would want a female supervisor.

Notably, one of the few subgroups in Gallup’s poll that didn’t favor a male leader was the 30 percent of employees who work for a female boss. Those employees were equally split in their preferences, perhaps showing that gender equality among leaders creates gender equality among workers as well.

“It’s important that men see that women are just as effective as or maybe even more effective than they are, and that maybe there are some things they can learn,” said Robert Sherwin, chief operating officer at Zenger Folman, in this Forbes article.

What are your thoughts on the findings of Gallup’s poll? Do you agree that employees, not leaders, are driving gender equality? Let us know by posting a comment below. We’d love to hear your thoughts!