Gender Inequality Through Gender-Blindness in Work Organizations?

Family-Friendly Employers in Switzerland During the Covid-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The study, based on a 2021 survey of 31 family-friendly Swiss employers, highlights how a gender-blind equal-treatment approach during the Covid-19 pandemic unintentionally deepened gender inequality within the organizations. While employers recognize gender-specific risks, they largely see no obligation to address them. We recommend adopting a gender-conscious (equity) approach in designing family-friendly measures within organizations for future crises and beyond.