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CoronavirusChildcareGenderEquality, diversity and inclusionLatest News

Coronavirus will widen gender gaps at work and home

by Jo Faragher 14 May 2020
by Jo Faragher 14 May 2020

More women will lose their jobs than men and the coronavirus will widen gender gaps both at work and at home, according to research published today.

A study from the London School of Economics’ Centre for Economic Performance concludes that – over the long term – the coronavirus crisis will bring about a “substantial shift” in gender roles.

Gender equality

Gender pay gap benchmarking data published 

Gender pay gap reporting enforcement suspended this year 

Authors Dr Claudia Hupkau and Professor Barbara Petrongolo predict that, as female-dominated sectors such as hospitality have been worst hit by the virus and related restrictions, the distribution of jobs losses could fall heavily on women.

The research, entitled Work, care and gender during the Covid-19 crisis, also found that the closure of schools and childcare settings meant women were more likely to be caring for children at home, leading to an increase in pre-existing disparities in division of care.

However, it acknowledges that an increased acceptance of working from home could benefit women more than men in the longer term.

It reports that in the UK, 48% of women are in jobs that can be done from home, against 39% of men, and due to “heavier household responsibilities” women may value flexibility or remote work opportunities more than men.

Furthermore, in around a fifth of households where there is a mother, father and dependent children, childcare is now shared more equally between men and women – either because the father is working from home or is not working.

This is especially true in households where the mother works in a critical sector such as the NHS and the father is forced to stay home. “This may accelerate the evolution of gender norms towards more equitable roles,” the report finds.

Prof Petrongolo said: “The Covid-19 crisis is currently widening the gender gap at work, where women are more likely to lose their jobs than men, and at home, where women are taking on the bulk of childcare.

“But there are a substantial minority of families where fathers now shoulder the bulk of childcare. Together with the way we are adapting our working lives to cope during the lockdown, this gives me hope that in the long term, a more equal society will emerge.”

Dr Hupkau added that women now face great challenges as they account for the majority of front-line roles or are at more risk of losing their job as it is a high risk sector such as hospitality.

She said: “Previous studies have shown that women value flexible working and the ability to work from home, and if these options remain as the economy reopens, that could boost parents’ ability to combine work and family commitments.

“The influx of women into the labour market during the Second World War led to permanent positive change for women’s job prospects in the following decades.

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“Perhaps when we look back, the Covid-19 crisis will prove to have been a similar turning point.”

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Jo Faragher

Jo Faragher has been an employment and business journalist for 20 years. She regularly contributes to Personnel Today and writes features for a number of national business and membership magazines. Jo is also the author of 'Good Work, Great Technology', published in 2022 by Clink Street Publishing, charting the relationship between effective workplace technology and productive and happy employees. She won the Willis Towers Watson HR journalist of the year award in 2015 and has been highly commended twice.

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2 comments

Gul 9 Jun 2020 - 12:08 am

I started a new job on the 1st February 2020

I received my signed contract in February.

I started work in February and received £1500 for February’s work completed.

I was then laid off on furlough from March due to the lockdown and government guidelines.

I have received no payment from them for anytime I was furloughed.

I asked my employer would I receive furlough, as I started well within the allowed period. They advised me I wouldn’t as they didn’t add me to payroll In time. I found this extremely unusual but was worried I’d potentially lose my new job, so trusted them.

I was asked to start back work again at the beginning of May.

Upon commencement of employment I was given a tablet from my employer to manage the social media and customer emails.

What I discovered on the tablet was payslips for me which I’ve never received and a P60, also never given to me.

This led me to assume that they’ve claimed my furlough payment from the government and never paid me this for 2 months.

I am also led to believe that they are still claiming for my furlough whilst I’m back at work.

Thomas 9 Jan 2021 - 6:45 pm

The government said we going 3rd Lockdown everybody should STAY AT HOME but most companies stop pay furlough wages & no take action against them, HR know definitely they stop payment, The government should question all stop payment furlough reasons they stop payment

Comments are closed.

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