A silver lining: did COVID-19 accelerate the road to gender equality?

Background/Aims As part of a larger study on gender inequality in the NHS, this study examined the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on gender equality in NHS leadership. The aim was to investigate whether the pandemic facilitated conditions that better enabled workplace promotions for female leaders. Methods A qualitative modified grounded theory approach was used to study the perspectives of NHS leaders on issues impacting gender equality and career opportunities for women. The research sample consisted of 11 senior NHS managers. Data were collected using a questionnaire and in-depth interviews. Thematic analysis was used to identify key themes. Results The immediacy of the pandemic created critical job assignments which enabled female leaders to demonstrate their ability to perform in complex operational situations. The pandemic promoted cultural changes that influenced new ways of working which were seen as more suited to the needs of female employees, such as remote working or working part time. Conclusions The study challenges the ethos of presenteeism which exists in the NHS and highlights how the pandemic presented opportunities to overcome some of the barriers to advancement for female leaders. The normalisation of new ways of working, opportunities to gain operational experience and new methods of networking are all factors that could help aspiring female executives.