O.K. everyone, I need your help. Well, maybe it’s not a me-problem, but a we-problem. I read the Women in the Workplace report by McKinsey & Company and I was not surprised to learn that women are more burned out than they were last year—and increasingly more so than men. So much so that many women are considering leaving their jobs for ones that are less demanding, and that’s so sad. Stay with me, gentlemen, this applies to you, too.

Working women in the U.S. spend, on average, an extra 4-hours a day on unpaid work like caring for the children, cooking, cleaning, errands, laundry, dishes, etc. And now, with many people still working from home, the unpaid workload has increased. This workload has taken its toll on working women and I’m putting a spotlight on it today for men and women alike. What can we do to lend a helping hand?

Men, if your wife is working, you need to step up and share the workload. If you are a leader and you have women on your staff—check in, offer support, and help out, if possible. Just your recognition of their burden is a great first step. Women, we need to ask for help; carrying the load alone is not helping anyone, especially us. Don’t forget to ask the kids to help out, too. They might not be old enough to do a load of laundry, but they can clean up their toys. And the teenagers—don’t even get me started! They can do a lot more than what they are currently doing. Burnout is not OK, espcially if there is something we can do about it. Look around everyone, there is definitely someone you can help, even if that someone is you!

Let’s GO! WE GOT THIS!

Beth Fitzgerald

P.S. This is not a one-time offer to help. We need to pick up the slack permanently. Please share any ideas that will inspire the rest of us!