Women leaving the workforce due to Covid 19 & parenting

This past year has been tough for a lot of people. The pandemic hit the UK in March 2020 and flipped the world on its head. We've tried to adapt, but where has this left women in the workforce?

This new way of living and working became a juggling act for many women who found themselves stretched between their corporate day to day and attending to household and parental duties such as homeschooling. According to a survey conducted by The Financial Times, two in five working mothers have taken, or are considering taking, a step back at work due to the stress of having to juggle the responsibility of being a working woman and stay at home mum. 

Women who don’t have families are also feeling the pressures of Covid-19. According to  McKinsey & Company, Women make up 39 percent of global employment but account for 54 percent of overall job losses. One reason for this greater effect on women is that the virus is significantly increasing the burden of unpaid care, which is disproportionately carried by women. These roles include childcare, daycare, cleaning positions, after school clubs, to name but a few. This number will continue to rise if we don’t tackle the issue now.

So how do we stop the gender pay gap from widening due to women leaving the workforce?

An article published by Forbes offers a few ways in which this can be prevented…

• Create a culture where women are valued. Do the women in your office feel valued? Do they feel they are being encouraged to climb the ladder from c-suite to VP?

• Share responsibilities. This is possible in the workplace and at home. Train other employees who are looking to take on more responsibility to support someone if they have reached out and asked for it. This can also translate to being at home – if you see your partner struggling – Support. Support. Support. 

Find more suggestions, resources and events to share with your team by signing up to our members’ hub!