Fortunately, despite the damage the pandemic has done, it has also created some new opportunities and solutions for the post-COVID workforce. To that end, let\u2019s take a minute to reflect on women, specifically, and how the pandemic has changed their professional career and development goals.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n With everyone being sent home during lockdowns, women found plenty of time to reconsider their perspectives on their work, how it factors into their lives, and what they want moving forward. Women with children have especially expressed how their values have changed in light of life outside of work. These women are now seeking more autonomy, more flexibility, and a more hybrid approach to work, at the very least, if not a fully remote option.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Gartner Research also found that while 65% of men were eager to go back to work, only 57% of women were. Additionally, over 50% of women reported the pandemic made them question the meaning behind and purpose of their work. Finding meaning in work has been a hot-button issue over the last year or so, and it is imperative that employers respond to these new demands by increasing flexibility and being more transparent about the importance and meaning of women\u2019s jobs, in particular.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n This shift in women\u2019s career goals, along with every other work-related shift from the pandemic, needs to be carefully investigated and analyzed. Organizations need to rethink the office and focus on taking a more hybrid approach to their collaboration and teamwork. This will provide opportunities for more women to work remotely and ensure that companies can keep up so they aren\u2019t losing their best assets.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n After all, studies show that<\/a>:\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Hybrid work isn\u2019t going anywhere. To keep up, your practices and expectations need to change. Keep reading to find out how.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The hybrid workplace and increase of full-time remote work are going to require more opportunities for flexibility in scheduling and availability. Considering that nearly two-thirds of all women have increased their expectations of flexible work, organizations need to deliver by creating an atmosphere of trust where employees are empowered to choose a schedule that fits their lifestyle and other needs.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Women want more appreciation, more flexibility, and especially more trust<\/strong>. The most successful companies right now are the ones hiring people and trusting them to do their jobs, regardless of schedules and time clocks. Women want an evolved, engaged culture that embraces the future of work.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The leading thing that women want to see in the workplace is a role that allows for better work-life balance. That includes giving them control over scheduling and offering perks like flexible PTO and no more tiered vacation weeks. Companies often fear employees will abuse these privileges, but studies have shown that when they\u2019re offered, there are fewer absences and less burnout because people don\u2019t feel trapped at work.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Micromanaging and having to \u201csee\u201d progress in the workplace are out and autonomy is in. Women want to be trusted and respected for what they can do, which means not reporting their schedules and the granular details of what they do in a day.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n The pandemic took away a lot of jobs. Even companies that are still in business had to lay people off\u2014you cannot work remotely when your job is running machines at a factory or interacting with customers in a retail store. Today\u2019s employees want to know they are getting into stable roles that offer upward development and secure their career position in the event of another pandemic or economic crisis.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Women also want jobs that are going to give them a proper pay raise and enhance their benefits. This includes offering flexible PTO and flex work schedules, but they need more than that. Make sure that you\u2019re competitive with your salaries and paying people what they\u2019re worth, even if they\u2019re working remotely.<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Women are no longer content just going to work and doing their jobs\u2014as with most employees of all genders, people want more these days. They want a company that offers a good culture, which means one that appreciates its employees and <\/strong>that embraces diversity and inclusion. Beyond gender, you should also be inclusive in every way possible, focusing on getting the right person for the role, regardless of anything else.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n Women in the job market know their value and they have a new set of benchmarks with which they\u2019re sizing up their career moves and opportunities. The pandemic has reinforced the value of flexibility in creating the ideal work-life balance with hybrid remote options and more.\u00a0For more help on supporting and elevating women in the workplace, see this KnowledgeCity article<\/a> on how managers can support women in leadership roles. You can also check out this series of courses on Leadership Development for Women<\/a>.\u00a0<\/p>\r\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":" The COVID-19 pandemic completely changed the world of work and the way people think about careers. Everything we knew was uprooted, upended, and no longer part…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":4,"featured_media":14846,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"content-type":""},"categories":[4003],"tags":[137,177],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"\n\r\n
![\"Two](\"https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/womens-career-goals-body.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n<\/li>\r\n<\/ul>\r\n<\/figure>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nHow Has the Pandemic Shifted Women\u2019s Career Goals?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
The Importance of This Shift<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
\r\n
What Do Women Want from Their Jobs?<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
5 Tips to Support Women in the Workplace<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Celebrate Work-Life Balance<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Trade Visibility-Based Management for Autonomy<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Offer Stability and Job Security<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Increase Benefits or Income Significantly<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
Offer a Diverse, Inclusive Culture\u00a0<\/h3>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n
![\"\"](\"https:\/\/www.knowledgecity.com\/blog\/wp-content\/uploads\/2022\/05\/Building-a-Healthy-Workplace-Whitepaper-4.jpg\")
<\/a><\/figure>\r\n<\/div>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\nFurther Resources<\/h2>\r\n\r\n\r\n\r\n