In hospitals and grocery stores.
Good morning, Broadsheet readers! A new political donation is the biggest from a woman this election cycle, pregnancy and fertility treatments are upended by the pandemic, and women are on the front lines of the coronavirus crisis. Have a mindful Monday.
– On the front lines. Something that’s only become clearer as the coronavirus pandemic has spread: women are on the front lines of the crisis.
There are the women who make up more than 85% of registered nurses nationwide. There are the women who work two-thirds of minimum wage jobs, many of whom are either losing their jobs as businesses close, or becoming more crucial than ever as they provide the essential services that keep society running. And there are the women who work as caregivers outside hospitals, in nursing homes, in people’s homes, and those who look after at-risk or elderly members of their own families for no pay at all.
Even though the new coronavirus is more fatal in men than women, these demographics mean women may be infected at higher rates. Across the healthcare industry, women hold 76% of jobs, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
Some states and companies are taking steps to protect the women who will be most at risk as the crisis continues. Last week, Minnesota and Vermont said they would classify grocery store workers as emergency personnel—allowing them to access state-funded childcare while they head into work during the pandemic. Hopefully, more states will follow suit.
This weekend, the New York Times published a video featuring Fran Marion, a longtime worker and shift manager at McDonald’s in Kansas City, Missouri. In the piece, she pleads with McDonald’s to begin providing paid sick leave for its workforce; as a large employer, the fast-food chain isn’t required to offer emergency sick leave by Congress’s coronavirus legislation.
Those decisions and pleas are a reminder of how crucial it is for companies and lawmakers to take action—fast—to protect women like Marion and the rest of their workforces.
On a brighter note, we’re looking for the next round of Broadsheet reader responses. This time, the question: if you’ve been working from home for a little while now, what are some of your tips for staying productive and focused? Send your best ones to broadsheet@fortune.com and they may be featured in a future edition of the newsletter.
Emma Hinchliffe
emma.hinchliffe@fortune.com
@_emmahinchliffe
