In honor of Women’s History Month, the RALIANCE team has been reading about the future of women in the workforce, especially in the context of new legislation, labor trends and corporate policies that aim to advance women’s current and post-pandemic workplace rights. Check out some of our most notable reads below:
• Women of color fight for equality as the U.S. economy recovers (The 19th): New data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics reports that more than half the net job growth in February went to women. However, women of color are still struggling to get back into the workforce. Black women, in particular, are seeing high unemployment rates due to volatility in the types of jobs they occupy. This unequal post-pandemic economic recovery is why we push for institutional change and guide corporate leaders to build more equitable workplace cultures.
• 2022 is the year of the ‘Shecovery’ (Digiday): The pandemic left many women with disproportionate amounts of housework and childcare – driving them out of the workforce in staggering numbers. This report in Digiday points to the many ways in which corporations and their leaders have implemented new behaviors and policies that attract women back to work. Experts dubbed this the “Shecovery,” a time in which previously taboo topics in the workplace are now openly addressed to meet higher equity expectations.
• Women in leadership roles will help change the landscape of work (Lever): Women in senior leadership roles are setting goals to improve workplace culture in 2022. This piece surveys women on potential changes in corporate culture that will lead to more inclusive language in business communications and interactions. Survey respondents also discussed themes like having leadership that is more purpose-driven and workplaces that normalize empathy, resiliency, and representation.
• Creating equitable work environments in social justice organizations (Mother Jones): This article demonstrates that even workplaces focused on social justice need to take steps to build environments that are equitable for all – specifically, this includes addressing the disproportionate representation of white women in leadership at social justice organizations. The takeaway here is that all organizations should seek diversity in leadership that reflects the communities they serve.
We’ll continue to bring critical news updates your way here at the RALIANCE blog to make sure you’re in the know about issues that matter in the effort to lead culture change.
RALIANCE provides consulting, assessment, and employee development services to help build more equitable workplace cultures and create environments free from sexual harassment, misconduct and abuse. We stand ready to support your organization’s goals – contact us today at [email protected] to get started.