PETERBOROUGH (ON) CHAMBER OF COMMERCE | PETERBOROUGH, ON
  • COVID-19
    • Financial Support Programs
    • Business Resources for Recovery
    • Government Responses
    • Workplace Guidelines
    • Wellness Support
    • Vaccine Information
    • Rapid Screening Kits
  • What We Do
    • Influence
    • Profile
    • Knowledge
    • TeamPtbo
  • Find A Member
    • Online Directory
  • Membership
    • Member Discounts
    • Promoting Your Business
    • I'm Here Campaign
    • #lovelocalptbo campaign
    • Join Us
    • Solar Panel Installers
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • 2022 Business Excellence Awards
    • 2022 Business Summit
    • Power Hour 2023
  • Advocacy
    • Voice of Business
  • Connect With Your Chamber
    • Join Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Your Chamber Team
    • Social Media
    • Business Resources
    • Feedback >
      • Accessibility
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • #lovelocalptbokawarthas sponsors
  • Canadian Digital Adoption Plan
  • 2022 Municipal Election
Picture
Picture

Social issues are business issues

5/21/2021

 
Picture
The last year has given new perspectives and new voices for business issues. Business issues that were once more easily pushed aside, dismissed, or ignored have been placed front and centre. 
Traditionally, when we talk about business issues it’s discussed as a solitary entity, independent of life outside the business world. Then COVID-19 came along and turned everything upside down. As Joni Mitchell said, “you don’t know what you’ve got till it’s gone.” We’ve gone through a reckoning and have seen just how intertwined business is with everything else. I think many of us have known for a long time the importance of social issues for our economy and various movements have pushed that cause over the years.  
Our recovery from this pandemic gives us an opportunity to take a huge step forward. When we talk about the “new normal,” let’s talk about what we want the future to look like. 
Workforce inequality
Gender inequality is a business issue. COVID-19 has had a disproportionate economic impact on women. Women are more likely to beemployed in sectors facing shutdowns and layoffs, female entrepreneurs tend to be newer or smaller with less financial backing, and women have taken on the largest role in childcare and home-based education. This inequality is not a new challenge for the workforce, but the pandemic has illuminated shortcomings. Our governments are working to find ways to implement what has been dubbed the “she-covery.” Failing to address this issue will impact our nation’s economic recovery and drag it out longer. This is not just a moral obligation — it’s critical for our economy.
Childcare
Childcare is a business issue. Quality childcare is nearly impossible to maintain while also working a full day of work, especially for jobs that can’t be done from home. When the childcare centres closed, thousands of adults removed themselves from the workforce. 
Childcare has been an ongoing issued made much more challenging by the pandemic. Childcare spaces have been in short supply for years and the cost is a 
significant challenge for families. The federal government is taking steps to address these issues through the 2021 budget, pushing more subsidies, increasing spaces, and investing in quality care. Giving parents the option of quality, affordable childcare is essential to engaging the full potential of our workforce.
Schools
Our schools are a business issue. Anyone attempting to help our children with online learning can attest to this. Much like childcare, many parents have had to make the choice to either remove themselves from the 
workforce or burn the candle at both ends and get their work done after the kids are done school (or gone to bed).
Investing in our schools both helps our economy by training a better future 
workforce and makes it so those who don’t want to be homeschool teachers can focus on our work. This is a resource a generation of parents will never take for granted again.
Moving Forward
The line between the 
workplace and home has become a bit blurred. While work has moved more into our homes, our lives have also become more entwined with our work. We’ve seen more prioritizing of physical health, mental health, and schedule flexibility. These are all part of the future business community.
As your Chamber of 
Commerce, it’s our duty to advocate for a thriving 
business community. We know addressing social 
issues goes hand-in-hand with advocating for 
traditional business issues.
This recovery is our chance to work together and make some positive change.

Comments are closed.

    Author

    The Peterborough 
    Chamber of Commerce acts as a catalyst to enhance business growth, opportunity, innovation, partnerships and a diverse business community. 

    Archives

    January 2023
    December 2022
    November 2022
    October 2022
    September 2022
    August 2022
    July 2022
    June 2022
    May 2022
    April 2022
    March 2022
    February 2022
    January 2022
    December 2021
    November 2021
    October 2021
    September 2021
    August 2021
    July 2021
    June 2021
    May 2021
    April 2021
    March 2021
    February 2021
    January 2021
    December 2020
    November 2020
    October 2020
    September 2020
    August 2020
    July 2020
    June 2020
    May 2020
    April 2020
    March 2020
    February 2020
    January 2020
    December 2019
    November 2019
    October 2019
    September 2019
    August 2019
    July 2019
    June 2019
    May 2019
    April 2019
    March 2019
    February 2019
    January 2019
    December 2018
    November 2018
    October 2018
    September 2018
    August 2018
    July 2018
    June 2018
    May 2018
    April 2018
    March 2018
    February 2018
    January 2018
    December 2017
    November 2017
    October 2017
    September 2017
    August 2017
    July 2017
    June 2017
    May 2017
    April 2017
    March 2017
    February 2017
    January 2017
    December 2016
    November 2016
    October 2016
    September 2016
    August 2016
    July 2016
    June 2016
    May 2016
    April 2016
    March 2016
    February 2016
    January 2016
    December 2015
    September 2015
    August 2015
    June 2015
    May 2015
    April 2015
    January 2015

    Categories

    All

    RSS Feed

Copyright © 2021 Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce.  ​All rights reserved.
175 George Street North, Peterborough, ON, K9J 3G6
Phone: (705) 748-9771  |  (705) 743-2331  
Home    |    Calendar    |   Site Map   |    Privacy    |    Accessibility
Join the Chamber
MemberClicks
  • COVID-19
    • Financial Support Programs
    • Business Resources for Recovery
    • Government Responses
    • Workplace Guidelines
    • Wellness Support
    • Vaccine Information
    • Rapid Screening Kits
  • What We Do
    • Influence
    • Profile
    • Knowledge
    • TeamPtbo
  • Find A Member
    • Online Directory
  • Membership
    • Member Discounts
    • Promoting Your Business
    • I'm Here Campaign
    • #lovelocalptbo campaign
    • Join Us
    • Solar Panel Installers
  • Events
    • Calendar
    • 2022 Business Excellence Awards
    • 2022 Business Summit
    • Power Hour 2023
  • Advocacy
    • Voice of Business
  • Connect With Your Chamber
    • Join Us
    • Board of Directors
    • Your Chamber Team
    • Social Media
    • Business Resources
    • Feedback >
      • Accessibility
    • Subscribe to e-Newsletter
  • #lovelocalptbokawarthas sponsors
  • Canadian Digital Adoption Plan
  • 2022 Municipal Election