Working Moms Will Find Covid-19 Layoffs Hard to Fight

Many working mothers carry a heavier child care burden than fathers during the coronavirus pandemic, leaving them increasingly vulnerable to layoffs and terminations that would be difficult to challenge in court.

Worsening Issue: The pandemic has exacerbated existing gender dynamics between working parents. Working moms’ hours fell four to five times as much as fathers’ in March and April, increasing the gender gap in work hours by 20% to 50%, according to a recent study from Washington University in St. Louis.

Hard to Fight: Working mothers in caregiver lawsuits have the burden of showing that at least part of the ...