Read-Connect-Reflect #30
Note: Unless you’ve been living under a rock, you’ve probably noticed that the news cycle is dominated with election coverage right now 😀. For that reason, I’m going to skip publishing Read-Connect-Reflect next month and resume at the end of November. Also, make sure you VOTE!!!
Read
The gender wage gap just widened for the first time in 20 years (Axios)
The gender wage gap in the U.S. widened in 2023, with women earning 83% of what men earned, down from 84% in 2022 (see graph). Men's median earnings increased by 3%, while women's earnings rose by only 1.5%. According to this report, the shift in the composition of the female workforce, particularly the entry of younger women, Hispanic women, and those new to the labor market, contributed to this widening. These groups typically earn less, impacting the overall statistics.
This wage gap reflects broader inequalities in the labor market rather than just pay disparities for the same job (although, that is a contributor, too). As we know, women are more likely to occupy lower-wage positions and take career breaks due to caregiving responsibilities. The best-paying jobs—which often demand rigid schedules and inflexible in-office mandates—remain male-dominated, while roles traditionally held by women are often undervalued and underpaid. It will be interesting to see if disparities continue to widen as women opt into more flexible roles…
Today’s parents: ‘Exhausted, burned out and perpetually behind’ (New York Times gift link)
I don’t love the headline, but I really liked this article. It’s an exploration of American expectations around intensive parenting and—oof—it resonated. It highlights topics like the declining sense of community, our paltry social safety net, an over-reliance on individualistic perspectives of childrearing, and the impact of social media, and pervasive economic fears.
Part of what’s important about the Surgeon General’s new advisory is that it shifts the intensive parenting conversation away from “is this harming children?” to “is this harming parents?” But, of course, the real question is: “What are we actually going to do about it?"
How remote work impacts women at different stages of their careers (HBR)
Using data from 1,055 software engineers at a Fortune 500 company, the authors found that junior women who worked in the same building as their teams received 40% more feedback than those on distributed teams. This is, in part, because junior women asked more follow-up questions in person than they did in virtual meetings, suggesting that junior women receive more mentorship with working in person.
At the same time, senior women were taxed by in-person work, providing more feedback but reducing their own output and thus receiving fewer raises. In short, WFH allows junior workers to miss out on vital mentorship, but senior women benefit by improving their productivity. The study suggests that improving recognition for mentorship efforts, especially by senior women, can help balance the benefits and challenges of remote work across career stages.
Paid parental leave experience for women in corporate America (Parentaly)
Parentaly recently surveyed 2750 women, working in the corporate sector, who returned from parental leave in the past three years. The report found that:
Access to paid parental leave is highly valued and often a major factor in women's decisions to join a company.
Concerns about how parental leave might affect career progression are particularly significant for those with fully paid or extended leave, higher incomes, or positions at larger companies.
Parental leave can also lead to team burnout, with half of all leaves impacting not just the individual but the broader team, especially when proper planning is lacking.
The actions (or inaction) of managers play a critical role in shaping career and business outcomes related to parental leave. Effective managers are linked to numerous positive results, including strong pre-leave coverage planning, smooth re-onboarding after leave, and improved productivity, engagement, promotion rates, and retention of new parents.
Swedes take a new step in parental leave. Grandparents can now get paid to take care of grandkids (AP)
Unlike JD Vance, I don’t think the primary solution is our country’s unaffordable childcare system is “grandparents”, but I do recognize that—for some families—grandparents play an integral role in providing childcare. Sweden does too, which is why the government is now allowing parents to transfer 45 days (90, in the case of single parents) of their parental leave to the child’s grandparents.
This policy not only reflects Sweden's deeply ingrained values around work-life balance and family support but also acknowledges the evolving dynamics of caregiving in modern society. As more families seek flexible solutions to childcare, this law empowers multigenerational households by allowing grandparents to play a more active role without financial strain.
Connect
One of the things I miss most about being in an office is going out to lunch with colleagues. Back when I lived in St. Louis, it was not at all uncommon for one of my work besties—also named Jessica—and I to call each other shortly after arriving in the morning to make a lunch plan. (Side note: if you, too, prioritize scheduling your mid-day burrito break at 8:30am, we should definitely be friends! 😋)
Now that I work from home, and no longer have “colleagues” in the traditional sense, I have had to be much more intentional about scheduling meet-ups. I find that when I connect with friends during the work day, I come back refreshed, feeling more creative and less isolated. My schedule won’t permit me to do it all the time, but this fall I’m committing to lunch out with a friend once every two weeks. I’d encourage you to think about doing the same.
Reflect
One of the guiding themes of this newsletter has been embracing an evolving definition of success, and I’ve had this theme come up repeatedly with coaching clients over the past few weeks. Redefining success often starts with a shift in perspective—moving away from external markers of achievement to more personal, meaningful measures. In a world where productivity and accolades are often equated with success, it can be easy to lose sight of what truly matters. But what if success isn’t just about how much we do or achieve?
Perhaps success lies in the balance between ambition and fulfillment, in the ability to find joy in the present moment, or in nurturing meaningful relationships. It may involve embracing curiosity, resilience, and growth, rather than pursuing perfection.
With that in mind, consider the following:
How do you define success right now?
Are the markers you’ve set for success aligned with what brings you fulfillment?
What would change if you redefined success in a way that prioritized well-being, curiosity, or connection?
