Research has shown that the pandemic set women in the workforce back half a decade. Caregiving responsibilities at home threaten women’s ability to remain and progress in the workplace, with women of color feeling the brunt of this challenge. While the U.S. government lags behind on policies to help working families, companies can and should be acting sooner. Employees value flexible work arrangements, and companies need to get serious about offering them. Create an environment that acknowledges the role of parents to reduce the need for parents to have to hide their childcare challenges from work. In order to be successful at keeping more women in the workforce, companies need to make women a central part of the team — from the C-suite on down. Include women in strategic management conversations, and make changes together. The success of women, families, future generations, and our global economy depend upon our corporate executives choosing to take on this kind of bold leadership.
