This has been an unprecedented and challenging year to say the very least. Everyone in the workforce has been forced to adapt to the “new” way of working - at breakneck speed with very little warning. On top of these changes, employees are not only struggling with work, but also with financial and health concerns. Stress and burnout are a reality, and it looks to be having a greater impact on women. McKinsey’s annual Women in the Workplace study, paints a very clear picture of the effects the COVID-19 pandemic is having on women. Below are a several key takeaways from the report.
The report states, “women are more likely to have been laid off or furloughed during the COVID-19 crisis, stalling their careers and jeopardizing their financial security.” With schools and childcare centers closed, women find themselves not only having to do a "double shift" of work followed by household labor and childcare, but having to do both at the same time.
Although it is clear that a lot of companies have adjusted to more flexible working, only half have updated employees on their plans for performance reviews or their productivity expectations during COVID-19. The Mckinsey report mentions that “women are often held to higher performance standards than men, and they may be more likely to take the blame for failure” – because of this the burnout, particularly at senior levels is quite apparent as women feel more pressure to work harder and longer.
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More than 1 in 4 women are contemplating downshifting their careers or leaving the workforce completely, with the leading causes being burnouts, workplace discrimination, and inequality in career advancement. Women of color, especially Black women, face additional challenges such as lack of allyship and support in the workplace. McKinsey’s findings all point to a clear need to focus on workplace flexibility, employee well-being, and diversity & inclusion strategies. Otherwise, companies are at risk of losing women in leadership and future women leaders, unwinding years of progress toward gender equality.
How Can Companies Support Women in the Workforce?
Has the Pandemic Had Any Positive Effects for Women in the Workplace?
As we bid a thankful farewell to the year of 2020, not knowing how long the effects of COVID-19 will last, we can change and adapt our companies to help mitigate the decrease of gender equality and improve burnout in a remote working world.
