‘We must act to prevent rolling back gender equality progress’

There has been a paradigm shift in how we live, work and socialise forcing us to question long-standing habits, routines and values. It may be years before we comprehend the full ramifications of the pandemic on our society and places of work, but it is already evident that it is having a disproportionally negative impact on women. Shouldering more of the caring, home schooling and domestic responsibilities it is affecting not only their physical and mental health but is also limiting their career growth. With the focus on survival and economic recovery our support of the W programme is now more imperative than ever.

We must act to prevent rolling back gender equality progress and help organisations understand what they can do to mitigate and minimise the long-term societal and economic consequences the pandemic has had on women and other minority groups.

Kirsten Lees, managing partner, Grimshaw