As Offices Reopen, Parents of Color are Twice as Likely to Consider Quitting to Support Families as White Parents

Of all parents/caregivers who consider quitting, nearly half (48.2 percent) have employers who are or will require them to return to work full-time. 

“Returning to work in the middle of a pandemic is fraught with risk,” said Maria Colacurcio, CEO of Syndio. “Not just the health risk, but the risk of companies overlooking the impact on portions of their population and understanding that a one-size-fits-all approach will leave many behind. We know Covid-19 has hit the Black and Latinx communities particularly hard, something that may factor into the considerations about quitting work at this time. Companies that give employees ultimatums and force them to come back full-time while the pandemic still looms are risking the resignation of important and substantial populations in their workforce.”

In addition to asking whether respondents were considering quitting, the survey also asked respondents if they would be going back to work full-time, part-time or would continue to work from home. While there were no significant differences by race, ethnicity or gender regarding their work schedules, concerns about health were the most commonly cited reasons by those not going back to work full-time.

If you are not returning to work when your office opens, or not returning full-time, why? (Asked of people who say they are not going back full-time. Respondents were parents/caregivers and non-parents/caregivers. Respondents could choose more than one reason.)