Many women have decided to leave the workforce after the pandemic due to increased workload both at home and at work. Pressures on them have increased manifolds during the pandemic so now they are no longer interested in staying at their current workplaces and some have even decided to leave the workforce altogether. But the employers who give women the support and understanding they need to succeed at work will have higher retention rates.
There are two main reasons behind women deciding to leave their current employer or even to leave the workforce, firstly increased workload both at home and at work during the pandemic and secondly non-inclusive behaviors at work.
Increased workload at home and at work
Women in the workforce have reported increased workload at work and more responsibilities at home during the pandemic. And when they do not get support from their employers to balance work and personal life, they are having to take tough decisions about whether to stay at their current jobs and even to leave the workforce altogether.
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The top reason why women are leaving their current employers is the lack of work and life balance. Very few employers have helped women to create clear boundaries between work time and personal time during the pandemic.
Gender inequity and non-inclusive work behaviors
Gender inequity and non-inclusive work behaviors were happening even before the pandemic and they have not stopped during the pandemic, instead they seemed to have increased during the pandemic. Even in the remote and hybrid workplaces of the pandemic, a lot of women have faced non-inclusive work situations like unwanted physical contact, disparaging remarks about their gender and questions about their judgment.
These behaviors are a result of cultures where such behaviors are allowed to persist unchecked and where women feel uncomfortable to report such behaviors. The pandemic has revealed such work cultures where women suffer from non-inclusive behaviors and are unable to do anything about them.
Tips on how to retain women
There are various things an employer can do to keep women from leaving jobs. Employers who provide an inclusive work culture where women feel free to report non-inclusive behavior have a much better chance at retaining women.
Employers have to create an environment of gender equality and support women to have a work life balance and make sure their career is moving as fast as they would like. Women who work for employers who provide these things report better mental well-being, greater motivation and productivity, and are more loyal to their employers. There are a number of things that employers can do to keep women on board like creating a truly inclusive culture, enabling better work life balance and providing meaningful opportunities of career development.
A sustained change will only come when women experience a truly inclusive culture where actions back up the statements of importance of gender equality. A truly inclusive culture is very important as it will help women to report non-inclusive behaviors whenever they come across any, without the fear of having to face any negative consequences of having reported such behavior.
Reference: Why Women Are Leaving The Workforce After The Pandemic – And How To Win Them Back | Forbes | July 1, 2021
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