Supporting Working Women in a Way RBG Would be Proud

Despite cold temperatures and often dreary weather, March has a special place in my heart because it’s Women’s History Month. Since this month was first officially recognized by Congress in 1987, the promotion and significance of it has continually increased, as has the number of powerful and influential women shaping our world. 

One contemporary trailblazer is the late U.S. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg. She was the second female justice on the Court and she fiercely fought for gender equality, which made great strides for women in our country. One of my favorite quotes from the Notorious RBG is, "Women belong in all places where decisions are being made.” Bader Ginsburg’s quote rings true in all areas of life, especially professional settings. 

Unfortunately, the Great Resignation (employees leaving their jobs in high numbers) is affecting women at disproportionately higher numbers than men, potentially moving us away from Bader Ginsburg’s stated goal. Recent research suggests this shift is likely linked to the pandemic, during which working women have had to take on more than ever, resulting in many rethinking their careers. 

If you’ve felt as though you’ve had everything on your shoulders during the pandemic, you’re (we’re) not alone. The McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.Org 2020 Women in the Workplace study found that during the pandemic, mothers were “more than three times as likely as fathers to be responsible for most of the housework and caregiving.” Sidenote: This statistic reminded me of another favorite Bader Ginsburg quote, "Women will have achieved true equality when men share with them the responsibility of bringing up the next generation." We have some work to do here, too, but that’s for another blog…

No wonder some of us have been feeling burnt out and have considered cutting back at work. The Women in the Workplace study also found that 17 percent of women have considered reducing their work hours (this, compared to 9 percent of men). While understandable, considering everything else on our plates, this statistic moves us away from what women have been fighting for as we’ve advanced equality in the workplace (“where decisions are being made”) and feels like a step backward. 

A Focus on Wisconsin Working Women

When the Kane team saw this happening, we wanted to learn more about why it was happening so we could help offer solutions to help address it. Our Kane Insights report - the State of Working Women in Wisconsin - surveyed 1,000 women in our state to ask similar questions as the McKinsey study, and we found comparable trends, with some interesting twists. 

Our report found that more than half (54%) of working mothers in Wisconsin said they’re having a difficult time balancing responsibilities at home (including family-related) with work responsibilities. However, only half of those women surveyed said their jobs offer flexible hours or remote-work opportunities. No wonder 50% of Wisconsin’s working women in our study said they’re considering quitting their jobs.

Ways You Can Make A Difference

These survey results of women in our state underscored other research that points to the dire need for ways in which Wisconsin employers can help support working mothers. 

One opportunity is to offer flexible schedules with remote work options, which can help make #momlife, with its endless pickups and dropoffs, less hectic. I’m sure I’m not the only working mom who has white-knuckled it to after-school care through bad weather or unexpected traffic to ensure I make it on time … not a pleasant experience. Compare that to the five-minute drive to school from my house or (even better), having the bus drop my son off at home? Yes, please! 

Recognizing that not all roles can effectively work remotely, employers can offer accommodations in other ways, including flexible start and end times, to better fit school and daycare schedules for working parents. 

Beyond company policies that support working mothers, the Kane Insights report findings also underscored the fact women value communication from senior management at their jobs. In fact, 89% of women surveyed said it was important to them, while 25% said they were not satisfied with the level of communication from their employers. Ouch. How do we address this? You might start by asking employees their thoughts, either one-on-one or through an anonymous survey in which they may feel more comfortable offering feedback, to find out what’s on their minds, and then start addressing these issues with more frequent, meaningful communication. 

These may seem like small changes, though I can tell you as a working mom who works in a working-mom-owned agency, this type of support makes all the difference. And as the Great RBG once said, "Real change, enduring change, happens one step at a time."

Stuck on where to start? Send us an email and we’re happy to help you think through how to best support working women in your office!