Fast Company: Tips for Women Returning to the Workforce

Women’s participation in the workforce is at its lowest in nearly 35 years due to job losses and family care needs because of the pandemic. For many women, returning to the workforce may seem challenging. Raines’ Lisa Mann spoke with Sukhinder Singh Cassidy of theBoardlist, Sarah Hofstetter of Profitero, Tami Forman of The Path Forward, and Linda M. Holliday of Citia about explaining career gaps to hiring managers and returning to work.

See an excerpt of Lisa’s article below, and read the full article as published by Fast Company.

This past September, four times more women than men left the workforce. The pandemic is decimating jobs, and industries that are dominated by women are disproportionately affected as many women leave the workforce to fill family care needs. Reversing these losses at scale and for the long term will require serious conversations among lawmakers and employers.

But as the U.S. economy starts to show signs of recovery, there are steps women can take to get back to work, or to keep their current jobs. I recently spoke to several women leaders who offered advice to women navigating the new world of work (and family).

LIFE IS NOT BINARY

Negotiating begins at home. Many women, especially moms, find themselves assuming the classic gender roles in the home, taking on more of the household and child care duties even when employed. All too often, this contributes to women being underemployed. Sukhinder Singh Cassidy, former CEO of StubHub and founder and chairman of theBoardlist, advocates negotiating inside and outside the home. If you are thinking about leaving the workforce because nonwork obligations are interfering, consider whether there is an alternative to leaving entirely.

– A Return-to-Work Road Map for Displaced Women, Fast Company, March 2021

Read more tips for women returning to the workforce at FastCompany.com