COVID-19 and Diversity: Deepening Social Divides

Madonna called it “the great equalizer” as she sat in a luxurious bathtub adorned with flower petals—much like how most of us spend a Saturday night, no? Did she recognize the incongruence of her words coupled with the image?

Prince Charles, P!nk, Boris Johnson, Tom Hanks, Idris Elba… the virus doesn’t discriminate against gender, color, economic power or location. But the aftermath of the pandemic—the way society has changed because of the lockdown—has done nothing but discriminate.

The effects of the coronavirus has been felt in a variety of ways across society. To begin with, some are at a significantly greater risk of contracting the virus than others. And, as it turns out, those same people are likely to feel the financial repercussions of lockdown more acutely. 

Parents Under Pressure

The London Metropolitan University reported that those without children are more likely to focus on “career-enhancing activities” since they don’t have to cram work, home and childcare into an already busy day. With schools and daycare centers closed, parents have had to care for their children full-time while also being their teachers, working their jobs and taking care of the home.

The Boston Consulting Group surveyed parents in four European countries and found:

• Almost 50% of working parents feel their productivity at work has decreased. 
• 60% have no outside help to educate their children or take care of the home.
• Parents now spend 27 more hours a week taking care of the house or their children—the equivalent of another full-time job on top of their actual full-time job.
• Women continue to bear the burden of home care; they spend 15 more hours a week than men on household chores.

If the lockdown continues long term, this could exacerbate the already uneven playing field. In many countries the state is being urged to step in and recognize that caregiving is an essential yet unpaid and undervalued service provided to society—a burden shouldered primarily by women. For a more personal insight, take a look at this article from the New York Times on how, during the pandemic, you can either have a kid or a job, but not both.

Women Won’t Experience a Positive Outcome

In past recessions, men faced a greater risk than women of losing their jobs, simply because they both earned more and made up more of the workforce in the most affected industries—like construction, manufacturing, utilities and transportation.

The socioeconomic impact of the current recession is different; tourism and hospitality are two of the largest industries negatively affected by the lockdown—sectors that employ more women than men. What’s worse, many governments have stopped requiring that businesses report gender pay gap data. That companies are being encouraged to focus primarily on keeping employees safe means equality is being pushed off the agenda, making recruitment and promotion of a diverse workforce much less likely. 

Additionally, women have taken on most of the care for children, they comprise the majority of healthcare workers on the front line and are overwhelmingly at risk of an abusive partner if self isolating at home. 

In Spain, there has been a distinct rise in domestic violence cases; the number of women killed by their partners or ex-partners in Spain has risen to 23 this year, and up to 1056 since 2003, when these records began. Spain’s 061 helpline service has seen inquiries increase by 493%.

And If You’re Pregnant…

A report by the TUC states that one in four pregnant women and new mothers have been selected for redundancy or furlough, and one in ten women state their loyalty to the business is being questioned by managers and leaders. This statistic is particularly alarming since it appears that companies are going against the law in the name of keeping a financially lean business.

While 71% of new mothers plan on returning to work, will they actually be able to if they can’t find childcare?

The Disability Advantage

Whereas physically disabled people may have found it difficult to find work before the lockdown, the pandemic has allowed companies to become more open to flexible working.  The ability to work from home makes it easier for someone in a wheelchair or with a physical disability to start work on time and safely. Those with ADHD or ADD can create an environment at home that caters to productivity, rather than having to deal with constant distractions in the office. 

What about Millennials and Gen Z?

The Deloitte Global Millennial Survey 2020 found that millennials and Gen Zs faced the pandemic with even more drive to make the world a better place. One surprising outcome was how quickly businesses adapted to remote and flexible working to keep their workforce safe yet productive. Millennials and Gen Z saw this as a positive take on putting people before profits.

This is also something that increases loyalty for this age group. They remain loyal to companies that address diversity, inclusion, sustainability and reskilling. More millennials are now remaining loyal to companies given how they have addressed employee needs positively during the pandemic.

On a Positive Note

The Catalan Government has recognized that repatriation of the deceased isn’t possible, and has given recommendations on burial according to Islamic rites. The government has also helped each municipality to prepare separate cemeteries since, according to the law, the Muslim community has the right to its own cemeteries.

The Spanish government has relaxed documentation requirements for immigrants and asylum seekers to make it easier for them to receive aid and get their basic needs covered, which means more immigrants are finding shelter in Spain, rather than being returned to their countries of origin.

What social and workplace changes have you seen since the pandemic started?