Every holiday season, the same quiet assumption shows up in workplaces everywhere…those without children have time that is automatically more flexible, more available, and somehow less valuable.
It sounds like: “Can you cover Christmas Day? You don’t have kids.” or “Susie needs to be home with her kids watching them open presents.”
I founded “The Childless Life”, a global community of women who are childless not by choice and I hear
these stories every year. I’ve never personally been impacted by these inequities…but I speak up because so many women have. Their experiences deserve visibility, validation, and change.
A call to action for leaders:
* If you want to build a truly inclusive culture, start by examining the assumptions that shape your holiday practices.
* Create scheduling systems and review past holiday schedules to ensure there is no unconscious bias.
* Review past holiday schedules to ensure
* Ensure bonuses and holiday perks are equitable and not tied to parental status.
* Ask instead of assuming.
Small shifts in awareness can create meaningful change. And the holidays are the perfect time to start.
For more info on childlessness in the workplace during the holidays, check out My Family Tree Stops With Me.
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