McKinsey & Company and LeanIn.Org recently released the annual Women in the Workplace report, the largest such study of its kind. This year's report found 1 in 4 women are considering either downshifting their careers or leaving the workforce entirely due to Covid-19. This follows six consecutive years of progress in women's representation in corporate America.
The report looked at data and insights from more than 317 companies, which in total employ more than 12 million people, as well as survey responses from more than 40,000 individual employees. It emphasizes the importance for companies to take swift action to face the issue head-on, including recommendations to address worker burnout resulting from feeling "always on," which has become more prevalent than usual in current workplace conditions.
Facebook COO and LeanIn.Org co-founder Sheryl Sandberg says the situation puts corporate America in danger of undoing years of progress for women in the workforce.
