During these difficult times of Covid-19, working from home can be challenging, especially if you have young children and other distractions. If your spouse is an essential worker or has an equally demanding job, you may not have anyone to help keep your kids busy while on a Zoom or conference call. Interruptions are likely, and you would expect your colleagues, superiors, and clients to be understanding and patient.

Unfortunately, reports suggest the contrary.

The requirement to work from home caused by Covid-19 has triggered a dramatic increase in workforce discrimination against working women. Many employers are not providing support and relief for women who have child care requirements at home. Due to the fractured nature of where employees are working, companies are not actively monitoring compliance with policies that protect against bullying, discrimination, sexual harassment, and racism, sparking indifference and hostility by senior employees and executives against working moms. Complaints about inappropriate comments made by superiors or colleagues are being dismissed or ignored. In many cases, the complaining employee is eventually terminated in retaliation “for business reasons” or “for failure to perform her job duties.”

Now more than ever, working moms are worried about sharing work-life challenges with their colleagues or having their work negatively judged because they have childcare responsibilities. Inappropriate comments are more frequent, such as "You will not be part of this new project since you are too busy with mommy duties," or your employee asks you for help as the superior and you dismiss her concerns with “you will just have to deal with it to keep your job” or “if you can’t adjust, your career will suffer.” 

Working mothers have traditionally battled systemic workplace biases, fostering hiring, pay, and work experience discrimination. We believe a male employee would not likely suffer this type of bias. Employers must make every effort to stem the tide created by Covid-19 against any progress made for workplace gender equality.

What will you do today to be #beupstanding and help #changetheculture for an environment without #sexualharassment, #abuse and #racism? #TimesUp. Let’s #playnice. For more info on this topic and other related issues, check out “Play Nice - Playground Rules for Respect in the Workplace,” and join us at www.thesandboxseries.com.