Reports claim that the Government has ‘repeatedly failed’ women in Covid response.

With international women’s day nearing, it’s been both interesting and alarming to hear about the impact that the coronavirus pandemic has had on so many women in the workplace.

It has been reported that a group of MPs have said that the government has repeatedly ignored the specific needs of women when crafting its coronavirus support packages, often leading to women experiencing a disproportionate economic impact from the pandemic.

A report from the Women and Equalities Committee (WEC) found both the job retention scheme and the self-employed income support scheme (SEISS) overlooked the existing inequalities women faced in the labour market and in their caring responsibilities, and that the government's priorities for recovery were “heavily gendered in nature”, with investment plans skewed toward male-dominated sectors such as construction.

Industries that have been worst hit by lockdown measures, such as hospitality and beauty are often overrepresented by women. Research has found that the majority of childcare and homeschooling responsibilities have fallen on women during the pandemic, regardless of whether or not they were in employment.

Caroline Nokes, Conservative MP and chair of the WEC, said: “As the pandemic struck, the government had to act quickly to protect jobs and adapt welfare benefits. These have provided a vital safety net for millions of people. But it overlooked the labour market and caring inequalities faced by women. These are not a mystery – they are specific and well understood. And yet the government has repeatedly failed to consider them.”

She said the “passive approach” to gender equality was “not enough” and that, for many women, the pandemic has made existing problems worse.

Commenting on the findings, Baroness Berridge, minister for women, said the government had provided an “unprecedented offer of support, which includes help for the sectors [women] are more likely to be employed in, protection for female-led start-ups and new childcare support”.

“We understand it’s been a very difficult time for parents with childcare responsibilities and that is why we have introduced flexible furlough agreements and have extended the furlough scheme through to April, supporting employees who are struggling to work because of childcare,” said Berridge.

“We also recognise that it is vital that children can return to school to lift some of the weight off parents across the country, which is why we will prioritise opening schools when it is safe to do so.” 

Many women have found themselves in an “impossible situation” during the pandemic, too many working mothers have had to cut their hours or have been forced to leave their jobs, because they were unable to manage.

It has also been reported that if ministers don’t act soon then many women will be pushed out of the labour market, meaning that women’s and children’s poverty will likely soar. Ministers must work to strengthen rights and support for working parents otherwise there’s a risk that women’s equality could be set back by decades.

If you’re an employer that feels that you could benefit from some help and advice with ensuring workplace equality for women and or working parents (male or female), then please get in touch. This is a personal passion of mine and i’m keen to help as many employers as possible succeed in this area.

As an independent HR consultant, I am able to advise in the best interest of both the employer and the employee, working with you to develop a fair, sustainable and workable strategy for your organisation.

Working mum during the coronavirus pandemic.