The Risk for Women and Minorities as Offices Reopen

As offices reopen, what will happen to working mothers and caregivers who don’t have a place for their children to go, or are nervous about the safety of child care? And who does this impact? Economic disaster like the COVID pandemic impacts the most vulnerable and exacerbates differences that already exist. 

A recent study we conducted indicates that as offices reopen, more than one in ten parents or caregivers with office jobs are considering quitting. It gets worse. Minorities surveyed were twice as likely to say they are considering quitting than white parents.

What will happen when offices reconvene with fewer caregivers and minority parents? The challenges will be overt and subtle with women’s careers taking the biggest hit. 

We already know that women and women of color are spending more time caretaking while men are spending more time working, and their careers may take a hit because of it. What happens when this dynamic is brought back to the physical workspace, with men in the office and women trying to keep up virtually from home?

Check out the latest survey here.