First published on LinkedIn.
It’s been three (3) years since the mass exodus of 2+ million women in the workplace. We also saw a shift in the number of male workers at that time. However, as of 2022, male workers have regained ALL job losses. Yet, female workers are still short by more than 1.8 million jobs lost since February 2020. Where are they and why haven’t they returned? As corporate offices roll out "RTO" policies, the loss of women in the workplace is becoming more and more apparent.
And let’s not forget the multiple roles and identities that women carry. Whether they’re a working mom with a disability or a Black woman who also identifies as part of the LGBTQ+ community, there still is a cultural expectation that women should prioritize family and housework and not their careers. Some progress has been made, such as the recent Pay Transparency Law passed in California, but according to WEF, we still have 134 years until we close the global gender gap.
As we count down to International Women’s Day on March 8, I want to highlight the ups and downs that we’ve all faced. Issues that your female employees face should matter to everyone on the team, regardless of gender. When we leave women behind, we hurt everyone in the process, including our communities.
2020 was the year that women left. Schools closed down and care for the elderly increased. During a time of exhausted working parents balancing working from home and taking care of the family, many women chose to become full-time caretakers. Women around the world lost 64 million jobs in 2020, a 5% loss compared to a 3.9% loss for men.
2021 was the year that women resigned. Enter the "Great Resignation." Millions of people were quitting their jobs each month but women were quitting at a higher rate than men. This was due to an increase in their desire for flexible work options and better pay and growth opportunities.
2022 was the year that women returned. And yet, compared to their male counterparts, female workers haven’t been able to regain job numbers prior to 2020. Some have returned to the workforce while others have only made a partial return.
So what does the year 2023 have in store for women?
If we think of the workplace as an ecosystem, a healthy environment is one beaming with diversity and a thriving environment is one where all living beings are interconnected. To draw a parallel to the workplace, a thriving team has Inclusion and Belonging embedded throughout its culture. Bringing women back helps with team morale and employee engagement, which ultimately supports greater innovation and higher revenues. There is no shortage of educated, skilled, and talented women for Corporate America.
What strides has your organization made to support and advance women in the workplace? I want to hear from you!
IT'S OFFICIAL!
It's my honor to announce that I will be a speaker at SXSW in March 2023 in Austin, TX. My topic will be 'Driving Diversity Forward with Data'. Tickets are available now.
I've also been selected to be featured as part of the 2023 bookstore showcase!! Find me hosting a book signing at the Austin Convention Center room 10C on Level 3 on March 14, 2023, from 1:00pm - 1:30 PM Central. Hope to see you there!
MARCH OBSERVANCES:
Women's History Month - March is Women's History Month and this year's theme is "Celebrating Women Who Tell Our Stories" which honors women who have been active in all forms of media including print, radio, TV, stage, screens, podcast, news, and social media.
Gender Equality Month - We're still over a century away from achieving true gender equality. This month is dedicated to eradicating biases and teaching people the indispensable role of women in society.
National Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month - 1 in 4 adults in the U.S. have some type of disability (CDC). Hosted by the National Association of Councils on Developmental Disabilities (NACDD), the month is designed to raise awareness about the inclusion of people with developmental disabilities in all facets of community life.
Irish-American Heritage Month - Immigrants and their contributions have a deep connection to the U.S. First celebrated in 1991, the observance honors the achievements and contributions of Irish immigrants and their descendants.
National Employee Appreciation Day, March 3 - The first Friday of every March, this day focuses on employees of all industries.
International Women's Day, March 8 - This year's theme is #EmbraceEquity. We all play a part in advancing equity and embracing differences.
National Deaf History Month, March 13 to April 15 - Commemorates the achievements of people who are deaf and hard of hearing. The time frame is spread across March and April in recognition of three (3) turning points in deaf education history dating back to the early 1800s.
Equal Pay Day, March 15 - Wear RED on Equal Pay Day to symbolize how far women and minorities are "in the red" with their pay!
International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, March 21 - On this day in 1960, police opened fire and killed 69 people at a peaceful demonstration in Sharpeville, South Africa, against the apartheid “pass laws.” Since then, the U.N. General Assembly has continued its efforts to eliminate all forms of racial discrimination.
International Day of Remembrance of the Victims of Slavery and the Transatlantic Slave Trade, March 25 - The Day is observed with ceremonies and activities at U.N. HQ in New York and at U.N. offices worldwide.
Transgender Day of Visibility, March 31 - There is an estimate of over 2 million transgender people in the U.S. On this day, transgender voices are lifted to further understanding and human connection.
Until next month... Be well and stay safe & healthy!
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