Intersection: Moms need more than flowers

DELIVERING ON DIVERSITY, GENDER EQUALITY, AND INCLUSION

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In this issue, we look at how Australia is supporting mothers and efforts to reduce maternal mortality in the United States. Plus, we take stock of how US renters are faring, and we consider how organizations can help employees who are struggling through the pandemic.

THE ZEITGEIST

More than one day

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Care package. This week, Australia announced that it will increase childcare subsidies for families with two or more young children—and that maximum subsidies will rise to 95 percent of the childcare fees paid for each child after the first. This means that Australian parents will no longer see their costs double when they have a second child, and that childcare expenses will eat up less of their paychecks. The policy is intended to give more mothers the ability to work, or to work more hours. Australia could substantially boost its GDP by increasing women's workforce participation, and improving marginal financial incentives is one of the top ways it can achieve this. Though many say they want more paid employment, Australian mothers are far more likely to work part-time than their counterparts in most other developed countries. Among the reasons: net childcare costs took up nearly one-fifth of household income for a typical Australian couple last year—double the OECD average.

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Crisis response. The United States has one of the highest maternal mortality rates of all developed countries, and the situation is particularly dire for Black and Indigenous women: they are two to three times more likely than white women to die from pregnancy complications. The majority of these deaths are preventable, and the United States has ramped up efforts to improve maternal health—especially in rural areas. Rural Americans are more likely than urban residents to be uninsured, and the risk of being uninsured is greater in Black and Indigenous rural communities. Another challenge: the long-standing shortage of primary-care doctors in rural areas. Together with other measures, expanding insurance coverage and the healthcare workforce could help to protect the lives of Black and Indigenous mothers and their children.

THE FACTS

1 in 5

One in five Asian, Black, Hispanic, and Latinx renters in the United States say they aren't caught up on rent payments. This means that their families are at high risk of not having enough food to eat, and they may be cutting back on medical care and other necessities. The consequences are far-reaching, both for these families and for the United States as a whole—at a time when the calls for inclusive growth are getting louder.

THE TAKEAWAY

Person doing push ups, being watched by infant

Reducing the stigma around mental health, particularly in the workplace, remains an ever-present challenge for individuals and companies alike. In the United States, last weekend marked the beginning of Mental Health Awareness Month, which began in 1949. As the COVID-19 pandemic continues to keep offices and schools closed and to wreak havoc on the nation's collective mental health (a recent survey by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention found that more than 40 percent of American adults were experiencing symptoms of anxiety or depression), the message that “you are not alone” is apropos. Virtual gatherings and yoga sessions can foster community, but employers should prioritize listening to employees, providing resources and support, and creating a culture that promotes well-being. Employees are starting to demand more investments in mental-health coverage and other tangible benefits—and companies would do well to listen.

Next week: a look at Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month.

— Edited by Julia Arnous, an editor in McKinsey's Boston office

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