CWC August Newsletter-Schools, COVID-19, and Women

Columbus Women's Commission

Schools, COVID19, and Women

working

During the era of COVID-19, women, families and caregivers are approaching a new unknown: balancing work and school during the start of an academic school year.  Recent data shows us:

  • 27% of parents nationwide are considering quitting their jobs in response to COVID-19.
  • One in three households have a child at home
  • Nationally, only 35% of parents in households with children report the ability to telework (only 20% of single parents report being able to telework)
  • Women have voiced that they’re twice as likely as their male counterparts to leave their employer this year.
  • Taking just one year off impacts women's future earnings: those who took one year off between 2001 and 2015 had annual earnings that were 39% lower than women who had worked all 15 years.

Women disproportionately bear the burden of childcare, eldercare, and homecare. Though we are seeing a shift to remote work, with two-parent households both working from home, we are not seeing an equal distribution of homecare work.  With the shift of schooling to online, hybrid, or in-person with caution, women are still feeling the unequal burden of childcare heightened during the pandemic. As employers and working parents navigate how to ensure parents can provide the support they need for their kids, while also fulfilling their job responsibilities, the Columbus Women’s Commission has brought central Ohio companies together to share ideas, strategies and creative policies. Together, we can support businesses and families during this challenging time.


The Columbus Women’s Commission introduces the Back to School Playbook for Employers

The Women’s Commission is committed to helping women, families and caregivers accommodate these challenging times. As a part of our mission to find solutions, the Commission hosted five working sessions with Columbus Commitment Pay Equity Adopters. During these conversations we heard from employers and human resource leaders about both the challenges they are facing and the promising practices they are exploring to support working families during this time.  From these conversations we partnered with Accenture to create a new resource, Back to School Playbook for Employers.  This Playbook discusses the issues employers are facing in helping their employees adjust to the current environment. Additionally, the playbook highlights the data on how the COVID-19 pandemic impacts women and families  in the workforce. It is our hope this playbook will inform and inspire flexible, innovative workplace policies, allowing for employers and employees alike to collaborate and help working families juggle the new normal of balancing parenting, schooling, and work.

The Commission extends gratitude to Accenture partnering with us on the Playbook.  We are thankful for your leadership and commitment.

Playbook

Listen to First Lady Shannon Ginther on All Sides with Ann Fisher

Listen to WOSU Interview with First Lady, Shannon Ginther, Chair of the Columbus Women’s Commission as she joined All Sides with Ann Fisher to discuss this important topic on August 27.

https://radio.wosu.org/post/stress-working-parents-during-covid-19-pandemic#stream/0


Navigating COVID-19 Employer Resources

The Commission has created several resources for employers as they address workplace policies, programs and solutions to support their working families.

Click here for the CWC Navigating COVID-19 Employer Resources.

Back to School Playbook for Employers

Summary of July Working Sessions

Equitable Workplace Practices while Navigating COVID-19 - Resource Document

Navigating COVID with a Gender Lens Webinar


COVID-19 and Schooling

school

The Back to School Playbook for employers guides employers on how to accommodate the needs of employees who are also parents. Not all students learn the same way. For some, online education may be an excellent option, offering flexibility and creativity to their work and class schedules. Unfortunately, school closures, online schooling, and the difficulties associated with this academic year may only perpetuate the existing educational disparity among vulnerable communities. These disparities could even potentially accelerate to the point of increased drop-out rates. In this article from McKinsey, it is predicted that the heightened achievement gap may create a further decline of GDP in the national economy. 


Shoutout

Darrick

The Commission congratulates Dr. Darrick Hamilton, a renowned faculty member at the Ohio State University and head of the Kirwan Institute for the Study of Race and Ethnicity, who was named as a new board member for the Institute for Women’s Policy Research!

The Women’s Fund of Central Ohio announced their 2020 Immediate Impact Grant Partners! 19 organizations and initiatives on the frontlines of COVID-19 serving girls and women have received funding for their work. This funding will go directly to people with big, bold ideas who are leaders in their own communities. The Commission extends gratitude to the Women’s Fund and these recipients for doing incredibly important work during this difficult time, centering girls and women! Check out this link for more information on the recipients of this grant.


Columbus News

Mayor Andrew J. Ginther is asking residents to nominate new candidates for the Columbus Hall of Fame. For years, the Columbus Hall of Fame has honored outstanding individuals who, through exemplary accomplishments, have gained national recognition for themselves and have brought credit to this city. 

Those nominating individuals for the Columbus Hall of Fame are asked to provide as much biographical information about the nominee as possible, including biographies, resumes, articles and letters. Please complete a separate nomination form for each individual if nominating more than one person.

Nominations for the 2020 induction will be accepted through September 15. Click here to view the nomination form.


Events

Paid Leave Roundtable with Senator Sherrod Brown

Join Women's Public Policy Network (WPPN) and Paid Leave for the United States (PL+US) for a virtual roundtable on paid leave in partnership with the U.S. Senator Sherrod Brown on Tuesday, September 1, 2020 at 10 am ET. Senator Brown will be joined by small business owners, working people, and those representing the critical need for paid leave during the pandemic. RSVP here!

Event

Women in the World: Global Poverty, Gender, and Race

Join Columbus Council on World Affairs for a conversation to understand the challenges to global gender equality. This conversation hosts Gayle Smith, President & CEO of the ONE Campaign and Former Administrator of the US Agency for International Development Date & Time: September 1, 2020 | 12PM-1PM Register here!

CCWA
LIFT

LIFT Focus on Action Session 3

The third LIFT session that was originally planned for August 11 but was cancelled due to technical difficulties has been rescheduled. The new date is Monday, September 28 at 1pm EST.

We look forward to the discussion of the business imperatives of gender equity which will be led by Cardinal Health CEO, Mike Kaufmann with panelists:

  • Francie Henry, Regional President, Fifth Third Bank and Columbus Women’s Commissioner
  • Lorraine Lutton, CEO, Mount Carmel Health System
  • Karen Morrison, President, OhioHealth Foundation

In the meantime if you missed the first two sessions, you can view them here:

Session 1 - Power to Transform Inside Out--Keynote by Mary Stutts

Session 2 - Improvisation for Building Awareness and Action: Identify. Improvise. Initiate.--ImprovEdge

Click here for more information!

Planned Parenthood Teen Peer Education Program

Planned Parenthood is hosting a program for teens to become teen mentors in their communities! This program, intended for teens aged 14-19, needs over 100 people who are interested in educating their friends on safer sex, LGBTQ+ inclusion, and healthy relationships. This program also offers community service hours & a space to develop your leadership skills! Click here for more information. 

planned parenthood

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Across American Cities, Evictions Are Down

COVID-19 and Gender Equality:  Countering the Regressive Effects

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