Well, we’ve slipped ladies. . . Per The New York Times (NYT) article “The Pandemic Created a Child-Care Crisis. Mothers Bore the Burden.” and many other articles and papers we read this week, we have significantly slipped as a percentage of the workforce over the last year. According to the NYT, “In January 2019, women achieved a milestone: They made up more of the work force than men. The pandemic erased that status in a matter of weeks. And just as it took decades to achieve, it could take years to regain. Now, 56 percent of American women are working for pay, the lowest level since 1986.” 1986???? We were in Middle School/High School in 1986! It was counter-cultural for our Mom’s to be working in the 80’s - and the general professional opportunities were limited to categories such as teacher, nurse, secretary, etc.. We see so much press on raising hourly rates and starting bonuses. Some companies are paying interviewees just to interview. Are these the only solutions? What are the real issues? Does it matter the hourly wage is if a parent does not have daycare or school open for children? Does it matter if flexibility is the number one need to re-enter the workforce? We are happy to see another article this week from the NYT, “A new coalition of 200 businesses will push fixes to the problems of child and elder care”. The article describes what some employers are trying to do about the issues by creating a council. About the TIME’S UP Care Economy Business Council: The Care Economy Business Council is a coalition of large corporations, small businesses, entrepreneurs, and investors that is working with TIME’S UP to: Shift the cultural narrative around who is responsible for care; Encourage and enforce equitable practices to support caregivers in their own workplaces and the private sector; Rally investment in innovative solutions to fix the caregiving crisis; and Advocate for key public policy interventions to move us towards more fair and equitable workplaces for all. We are assembling an incredible coalition of companies – spanning every industry – to push for the creation of a comprehensive care infrastructure at this critical moment. Together, we can reimagine the world of care, support caregivers of all kinds, and build workplaces that are more fair and equitable for everyone. Click here to see if companies that you purchase from or work for are on the list. Kudos to these companies for seeking collaborative and creative solutions! Business Seek to Help Female Caregivers Return to Workforce - https://www.nytimes.com/2021/05/19/bu.... If you want to re-enter the workforce do not assume it’s impossible. Please speak up and ask for what you need - companies struggle to offer solutions when they don’t know of your real struggles. It never hurts to ask!