I talked with some private sector folks last week about school (lack of) reopening and implications for workers, especially moms

I went in cynically, expecting companies to be trying to squeeze every last bit of work out of their employees

1/

Turns out, they are doing are doing amazing things to support their workers and communities:

Building daycare centers on site (!!!)
Subsidizing childcare
Flexible leave policies
Connecting contract workers with resources
Food boxes for those in need

2/

They were also very conscious of potential for disparate impacts on women and looking for plans to mitigate those impacts

Honestly, it was the most hopeful I've been recently

3/

BUT, and it's a big BUT...

These institutions are stepping up because our government institutions have failed us

It is the government that should be subsidizing childcare and incentivizing programs to retain women in the workforce

4/ https://twitter.com/ehaspel/status/1295141139503251456?s=20

In lieu of government action, I am glad companies are stepping in

But they are focused on their individual communities

A pandemic needs solutions that cross companies and communities and states

In short, it needs Federal action

5/

But we aren't likely to see Federal action soon

Thus my challenge to companies acting individually is to act in concert

6/

Companies should

Adopt policies together for your workers and customers so that no one has to be first mover (mask wearing, flexibility, etc.)

Create compacts to pool resources if they do not have enough on their own (for testing, daycare, etc...)

7/

And most importantly, companies should use their power together to advocate for local, state and Federal responses to:

Suppress the virus

Fund people, schools, and childcare

/end