Women and Work After Covid-19

by Maria S. Salinas

In the pre-COVID-19 world, we have celebrated the gains women have made in the workplace; but, today, women find ourselves facing a real dire situation. COVID-19 has erased many of the gains that women have made over the years, and while we’re aware of many of the obstacles women face in the workforce, a McKinsey report shows that, one in four women are considering leaving the workforce versus one in five men.



It would be bad enough if that’s where the disparities ended, but women at every level of employment are also feeling more exhausted, burnt out, and under more pressure than men as they disproportionately shoulder the burden of work and family life. The 2021 Mount St. Mary’s University Report on the Status of Women and Girls in California found that a staggering 70% of California women have suffered mild to severe symptoms of anxiety during COVID, and that 47% of California women delayed necessary medical care during that same time.

How can this be addressed? If we are to build an equitable economy which lifts our communities, we must alleviate the obstacles holding women, who make up half of the entire population, back. We must consider public policy which allows for greater access and support for women’s health, education, elder care, family planning, maternal health, and paid leave which can be leveraged to ensure they work for everyone, especially women. Companies should encourage the recruitment, training, mentorship, and support of women at all stages of their career.



Governor Newsom already took a big step in his revised budget, allocating $83 million to add 100-thousand slots for child care, and more is hopefully on the way. Studies show that continuing to tackle the issues which uniquely affect women could add nearly $13 trillion to our nation’s GDP. 

If your company has creative and innovative policies to support women in the workplace, share them with us. We want to hear what is working for you. Email us at [email protected].