The pandemic has decimated the numbers of women in the US workforce, with 5.4 million jobs lost among women since February, the number of working mothers unemployed tripling that of working fathers and jobs held by women accounting for the entirety of December's 140,000 losses, Emma Hinchliffe and Maria Aspan write. "We've lost so much ground. It's astronomical," says C. Nicole Mason, president and CEO of the Institute for Women's Policy Research.
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The US Occupational Safety and Health Administration has released updated workplace safety guidance for employers that advises the implementation of measures to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. The guidance does not create new legal obligations and offers advice on safety issues, such as ventilation, workplace cleaning and isolating employees.
Employers should pay attention to cultural humility in selecting benefits that support employees' mental health and wellness, Angela Nelson of Rethink Benefits writes in this commentary. "While the efficacy of many clinical practices is predicated on a multitude of factors, prioritizing culturally humble behavior in the relationship is a conscious and empathetic way to set all parties up for success," Nelson writes.
Leaders can encourage better meeting participation and idea exploration by saying less and asking better questions, writes BTS Associate Director Luba Koziy. "There's certainly a place for adding ideas and information yourself, but leaders are best positioned to actively listen and then point out the common themes emerging from the group," Koziy writes.
