Abstract
Did women’s relationship with the paid labor force fundamentally change as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic? Women, specifically women with children, were disproportionately affected by increased caregiver needs, experienced the largest margin of employment disruption, and faced difficult choices regarding family and paid employment. The history of women’s presence in the paid labor force, gendered wage gap and socio-cultural discrimination has long been the subject of study. However, the impact of the pandemic on women’s participation in paid work and the factors mothers must consider when making employment decisions is less understood. This qualitative, narrative study explored how the pandemic amplified the wicked problem of cultural and occupational barriers faced by women with children and examined the conditions and practices that influenced women’s decisions regarding continued participation in the labor force. Six mothers were interviewed. Their voices revealed themes of fear, mental health, altered perspectives, and personal and professional identity throughout the course of the pandemic and quarantine. Each participant reported diminished trust in their leadership and chose to make an employment change. An evidence-based training program focused on authentic leadership to address the underlying themes was proposed for the organization ready to support their leaders and employees as well as mitigate the full impact of future organizational disruption and change.