Human resource, for most companies, is the first gate into a business for talent, the reason retention succeeds or fails, the key to company culture, and at the heart of diversity and inclusion. Historically, women have been at the helm of HR, today making up about 74% of HR positions, according to a report by Data USA.
You can’t say the same for tech, though. Tech, as you’re probably aware, is still a male-dominant field, with women making up only 28% of the STEM workforce, according to the AAUW. What does that mean for women who work in tech HR, especially in a post-pandemic era that disproportionately affected women?
To me, it means one thing: we’re at a crucial crossroad, and it’s our responsibility to harness this moment for change for women in tech. We have an opportunity to rebuild what was lost in terms of female talent and momentum, drive gender equity in tech, and empower more women both personally and professionally.
The Effect of COVID-19 on Women in Tech
You’ve likely read the statistics, but I wanted to dive into some specifics on how the digital revolution, and more recently COVID-19, has affected working women significantly more than men. Women were more vulnerable to COVID-19–related economic effects because of existing gender inequalities. Not only did they leave the workforce (according to Women Tech Council, 865,000 women left the U.S. workforce in September 2020 alone — 4x more than men), but they also had a greater workload at home than they did pre-pandemic.
Continue reading: https://www.toolbox.com/hr/diversity-inclusion/guest-article/empowering-women-in-tech-hr-for-a-successful-post-pandemic-workplace/
You can’t say the same for tech, though. Tech, as you’re probably aware, is still a male-dominant field, with women making up only 28% of the STEM workforce, according to the AAUW. What does that mean for women who work in tech HR, especially in a post-pandemic era that disproportionately affected women?
To me, it means one thing: we’re at a crucial crossroad, and it’s our responsibility to harness this moment for change for women in tech. We have an opportunity to rebuild what was lost in terms of female talent and momentum, drive gender equity in tech, and empower more women both personally and professionally.
The Effect of COVID-19 on Women in Tech
You’ve likely read the statistics, but I wanted to dive into some specifics on how the digital revolution, and more recently COVID-19, has affected working women significantly more than men. Women were more vulnerable to COVID-19–related economic effects because of existing gender inequalities. Not only did they leave the workforce (according to Women Tech Council, 865,000 women left the U.S. workforce in September 2020 alone — 4x more than men), but they also had a greater workload at home than they did pre-pandemic.
Continue reading: https://www.toolbox.com/hr/diversity-inclusion/guest-article/empowering-women-in-tech-hr-for-a-successful-post-pandemic-workplace/
