Every year, International Women\u2019s Day gives us a moment to pause and take stock. To look at how far we\u2019ve come \u2014 and, more importantly, how far we still have to go.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
This year\u2019s theme, Give to Gain<\/a><\/strong>, couldn\u2019t be more relevant. Especially when we talk about midlife Returners and the employers who are missing out on their talent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Because here\u2019s the truth: when organisations give<\/strong> opportunity, flexibility, and trust \u2014 they gain<\/strong> experience, loyalty, perspective, and performance.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Midlife women Returners are often spoken about in the language of gaps, confidence, or \u201cgetting back up to speed\u201d. That framing is outdated \u2014 and unhelpful.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Returners bring:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Many have managed teams, budgets, households, care responsibilities, and change \u2014 often all at once. That is not time lost. That is capability built.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Yet too many hiring processes still filter them out before they even get to the conversation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If employers are serious about talent shortages, skills gaps, and retention, Returners are not a \u201cnice to have\u201d. They are part of the solution.<\/p>\n\n\n\n One of the biggest barriers Returners face is not ability \u2014 it\u2019s rigidity.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When employers give:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n They gain:<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n Returners are not looking for shortcuts. They are looking for fair access \u2014 and they tend to stay, grow, and contribute deeply when given it.<\/p>\n\n\n\n There\u2019s a growing narrative that diversity and inclusion initiatives are no longer needed \u2014 that recruitment should be \u201cneutral\u201d and that merit will naturally rise to the top.<\/p>\n\n\n\n In theory, that sounds reasonable, but in practice, it ignores reality.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Bias still exists \u2014 particularly age and gender bias combined. Recruitment systems are still designed around linear careers. Job specs still quietly exclude those with non-traditional paths. And confidence gaps are often mistaken for competence gaps.<\/p>\n\n\n\n D&I initiatives matter because they:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Until returners are consistently hired without special explanation, advocacy, or programmes \u2014 D&I work is not \u201cdone\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n International Women\u2019s Day is just for one day, it should be part of an overall strategy to support more women return to the workforce.<\/p>\n\n\n\n International Women’s Day is about asking the right questions:<\/p>\n\n\n\n Who are we excluding without meaning to?<\/p>\n\n\n\n What talent are we overlooking because it doesn\u2019t look familiar?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Give to Gain<\/strong> reminds us that progress is reciprocal. When employers give space for women to return, re-skill, and re-enter \u2014 they gain stronger teams, broader thinking, and sustainable talent pipelines.<\/p>\n\n\n\n When society gives value to experience at every life stage \u2014 everyone benefits.<\/p>\n\n\n\n This International Women\u2019s Day, let\u2019s stop asking whether Returners are \u201cready\u201d.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Let\u2019s start asking whether our systems are. Because when we give<\/strong> opportunity fairly, we don\u2019t lose standards \u2014 we raise them.<\/p>\n\n\n\n If your organisation is ready to embrace returners in 2026, the opportunity is wide open \u2014 and the talent is right in front of you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n For more information and supports on creating a Returner Friendly recruitment process reach out to our team at info@backtoworkconnect.ie<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Keep up to date with the latest Returner Friendly employers, upskilling & retraining opportunities by joining our platform HERE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n Sign up to our newsletter & job alert today and never miss the ideal opportunity again ! Sign up HERE<\/a><\/p>\n\n\n\n If you would like to take part in this survey you can do so via the link below. The survey is anonymous, only takes a couple of minutes, and your insights will directly shape resources and opportunities for future Returners. There are no right or wrong answers \u2014 we\u2019re simply interested in your perspective.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Your voice matters. Thank you for sharing it.<\/p>\n\n\n\nReturners: an untapped advantage, not a risk<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Give flexibility. Gain commitment.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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Why D&I still matters<\/h5>\n\n\n\n
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Give opportunity. Gain growth.<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Click here \ud83d\udc49Back To Work Survey<\/a><\/h4>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Every year, International Women\u2019s Day gives us a moment to pause and take stock. To look at how…","protected":false},"author":16,"featured_media":6686,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"episode_type":"","audio_file":"","cover_image":"","cover_image_id":"","duration":"","filesize":"","date_recorded":"","explicit":"","block":"","itunes_episode_number":"","itunes_title":"","itunes_season_number":"","itunes_episode_type":"","filesize_raw":"","csco_display_header_overlay":false,"csco_singular_sidebar":"","csco_page_header_type":"","_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[6,513,5],"tags":[],"class_list":{"0":"post-6685","1":"post","2":"type-post","3":"status-publish","4":"format-standard","5":"has-post-thumbnail","7":"category-blog","8":"category-employers-supports","9":"category-supports","10":"cs-entry"},"yoast_head":"\n