3 ways Philadelphia businesses can foster a sense of community among working women

As businesses continue to emerge from the pandemic and remake their workplaces from within, it’s crucial that they prioritize rebuilding a robust professional network for women.

One of us, Leslie Stiles, has seen the power of this network firsthand. When Leslie worked for what was then known as CoreStates Bank some 30 years ago, she joined a group of colleagues who were partnering with residents of Philadelphia to clean up a park in Kensington. As part of a service day focused on creating safe, clean environments in and around schools, Leslie and her colleagues picked up trash, cleared ground cover, and planted flowers.

As they worked, Leslie and her fellow volunteers discussed a variety of things — from health care and wages to birthdays and recipes. This gave Leslie a glimpse into the lives of people living in Kensington that better informed her work and helped her align the variety of banking services her bank provided for the people of this particular community. In short, it was a moment of true connection at its best: one that served both the bank and the community it served.

Today, the pandemic has robbed so many women of the ability to make these kinds of connections. Some people have returned to offices, some continue to work remotely, and others struggle with layoffs. The result of this decentralization is that many organizations are experiencing a diminished feeling of community. This has potentially negative consequences for business, employees, and the economy.

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A recent survey of nearly 1,500 participants of the Conferences for Women, the largest network of women’s conferences in the nation, found that 37% of women reported experiencing a decline in their sense of community at work since the start of the pandemic. As research from McKinsey & Company revealed, 51% of employees surveyed in 2021 said that a lack of belonging at work was the reason they were leaving or considering leaving their jobs. Only a feeling that their work was not valued ranked as slightly higher, with 54% of employees citing that as their reason for leaving or considering leaving.

Women are hungry for connection and community. It may be one reason that more than 10,000 women, primarily from the commonwealth, attended the 19th annual Pennsylvania Conference for Women, held earlier this fall.

This decline in community isn’t, of course, limited to women. Everyone is experiencing it. But historically, Philadelphia has had the largest share of working women of any city in the nation. And as a 2021 report by Philadelphia Works revealed, recent growth in the city’s labor force has been driven by an increase in participation among women. That means women’s experience has potentially significant consequences for the region’s employers and employees.

Here are three ways that businesses in the Philadelphia region can foster a greater sense of community among working women.

First, businesses must get creative about providing opportunities for women, and all employees, to connect with the larger community. For example, like CoreStates’ effort, they can institute “Service Days,” in which employees connect with the community. Businesses can offer a community education series on finance, health care, small business, and entrepreneurship. And they can provide leadership training and mentoring programs for employees.

Second, businesses can support women by providing more opportunities to participate in professional and personal development. The investment is relatively low, and the benefits are high. As one Pennsylvania Conference for Women attendee told Lorina this year, “Being together reminded me that even in the workplace, I can go on because I’m not alone.” And at the end of the day, it’s good for business because of the professional and personal skills developed at events like these.

And finally, women need to cultivate community for themselves. Leslie learned this from being a breast cancer survivor. Years ago, when she was first diagnosed, my hospital asked me to counsel other women with similar diagnoses. She would phone them or meet for coffee and listen to them unburden their feelings. Then Leslie would offer tips for coping with treatment, such as eating ice pops during and after chemo to mitigate mouth sores, share a great wig vendor she knew, or mention a mindfulness class she had taken. Most importantly, she would give encouragement. Hope is a powerful healer.

Leslie found this outreach to be incredibly healing. The passionate women she met and the friendships she made will be with her forever. Leslie got much more than she gave, and she discovered that as she helped others become stronger, she also became stronger.

Whether volunteering, counseling, or getting to know the small-business owners in our neighborhoods, relationship building fosters success and fulfillment in all facets of life.

Our nation faces significant challenges, including economic concerns, political polarization, and rising mental health issues. But rebuilding a stronger sense of community in our local workplaces does not have to be complicated or expensive. And it can only benefit everyone.

Leslie Stiles is the president of the board of the Pennsylvania Conference for Women and former executive director for the Pennsylvania Commission for Women. Lorina Marshall-Blake is the president of the Independence Blue Cross Foundation and a member of the board of the Pennsylvania Conference for Women. The Pennsylvania Conference for Women will celebrate its 20th anniversary in 2023.