The pandemic has swamped many working mothers. Already struggling to balance the demands of work and home, they were suddenly confronted last spring with having to add all-day child care and education monitoring to their long list of duties.Â
The result? âThe first word that comes to mind is exhaustion,â says Aleka Bilan, a working mom in Bend, Oregon.Â
Why We Wrote This
For a year millions of working parents, especially moms, have been stretched to the limits by a stay-home swirl of kids and work. Finally policymakers may be listening.
The challenges were felt so broadly that companies and politicians began to pay attention. Some corporations are reexamining their paid sick leave and flexible work policies. Business groups such as the U.S. Chamber of Commerce and the Business Roundtable want to target federal funds for child care.Â
Matt Lauer, Charlie Rose, and Kevin Spacey were among the prominent personalities whose careers ended after accusations that they engaged in predatory behavior. Several states, including California and New York, passed legislation focused on better training and awareness. And companies changed policies, including Microsoft which said it would allow workers who previously had contracts with arbitration clauses to take their complaints to court.
Backlash to the movement followed as well, with critics saying punishment for some alleged offenses went too far. And some advocates complained that not enough attention was paid to the more complex challenges faced by women of color and low-wage workers who experience harassment disproportionately.
People came forward : Andrew Cuomo harassment allegations show the success of #MeToo and the challenges ahead msn.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from msn.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.