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S&P Global/AARP Report: Companies Expanding Family Care Leave Due To COVID-19; Pandemic Severely Impacting Women in the WorkforceNEW YORK and WASHINGTON, Oct. 19, 2020 /PRNewswire/ -- Nearly 60% of employees working for large U.S. companies are spending increased time on childcare and family caregiving since the outbreak of COVID-19, according to a new joint study commissioned by S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) and AARP. Released today, the report, entitled Something's Gotta Give, analyzes the U.S. private sector's adoption of family leave and flexible policies in the aftermath of the COVID-19 pandemic. Survey data from 1,600 employees of companies with more than 1,000 employees was used to compile the report. According to the findings, while COVID-19 could drastically accelerate expansion of family care leave and flexible work policies in corporate America, it could also set women back significantly in the labor force as a disproportionate amount of caregiving responsibilities still falls to them. The research includes interviews with 12 key executives who personally leveraged care leave and provided perspectives about how companies can most effectively embrace these policies. Several executives voiced fears that the pandemic will significantly set back women's advancement in the workforce. In addition to formal parental and family caregiving leave, interviewees stressed flexibility as key to recruiting and retaining women. "The pandemic has highlighted an opportunity for the U.S. private sector to lead the way in adopting more flexible family leave policies, which we noted have a higher impact on women's participation in the labor force," said Martina Cheung, President of S&P Global Market Intelligence, who contributed an interview for the report on her own leave experience. "Implementing flexible leave policies, as well as a culture that embraces work-life balance, is vital to support a more inclusive workforce and achieve collective economic benefits. We are proud to partner with AARP to develop this new research and to provide greater insight into the challenges facing working families in light of COVID-19." The report found that companies offering flexibility or subsidized/back-up elder or childcare tend to see lower turnover rates for women, which is critical as women leave the workforce in record numbers in the wake of the pandemic. Half of family caregivers surveyed said their responsibilities have increased since the pandemic started. According to the National Alliance for Caregivers and AARP's "Caregiving in the U.S. 2020" study, approximately 48 million people provide unpaid care to an adult loved one, which could include a parent, spouse, partner or friend with a chronic, disabling or serious health condition. As the U.S. population continues to age, the number of people needing cae is only expected to rise. "One in six Americans were already juggling work and family caregiving responsibilities prior to COVID-19, and their unique challenges have only expanded as they try to keep themselves and their loved ones safe," said Nancy LeaMond, AARP Executive Vice President and Chief Advocacy & Engagement Officer. "Supporting these dedicated employees with caregiver-friendly workplace policies will help foster a stable and healthy workforce, throughout the pandemic and beyond." Other key findings from the report include:
This research was the first of its kind led by the S&P Global Diversity Research Council, a group of the Company's analysts, researchers and data scientists committed to providing greater insights on inclusion in markets and economies. The report is also part of S&P Global's #ChangePays initiative, launched in January 2019, which leverages the Company's essential intelligence to advance the discussion around the benefits of women's participation in the workforce. Read the full report at spglobal.com. About S&P Global: About AARP: Media Contacts Jackie Gulley Tara Powers Amanda Davis View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/sp-globalaarp-report-companies-expanding-family-care-leave-due-to-covid-19-pandemic-severely-impacting-women-in-the-workforce-301154672.html SOURCE S&P Global; AARP |