The issues are achingly familiar: inadequate childcare, the double shift of managing work and home, stress, a lack of opportunities, low pay and more. In many cases, Covid merely amplified that burden to the point that many women left.
And yet from this devastating crisis has come some of the most meaningful signs of progress. Congress is debating support for childcare and eldercare. Remote work has grown from being a perk to a priority. While the talent shortage is making it harder to find caregivers, it’s also enabling smart employers to make their efforts to promote and support women a magnet for attracting talent.
Some goals remain elusive. Of the top 300 companies, only 20 are helmed by a woman. One is the Hershey Company, which clinched the No. 1 spot. CEO Michele Buck became the first woman to lead the chocolatier in its 127-year history when she was promoted to the top job in 2017. Today, women make up 42% of the Pennsylvania-based business’ board. By 2025, it aims to increase thein its workforce to 50% and in leadership to 42%, up from 48% and 37% currently. After achieving pay equity in the U.S.
“I’m delighted that we are at this pay equity moment for women in U.S. salaried roles and also for people of color in U.S salaried roles,” she says. “Pay equity is a vital component to ensuring that women continue advancing in this industry and in others.”To reach its goals, Hershey launched at the height of the pandemic an initiative called the
Oh wow, the numbers of women knocked out of the workforce by Covid 19 is devastating! I assume that's because of Women's traditional (natural?) role as matriarchs in the home and protectors of the children... In other words, a lot of women stayed home to take care of the kids.