4.1.3. No Raises or Opportunities for Advancement

According to 6.7% of the respondents, many employers paused planned raises and promotions because of the economic uncertainty of the pandemic. Instead, employers focused on navigating the changing market and economy. Some women described opportunities for advancement that vanished though they were up for a promotion or role switch. Women described the long-term effects this will have on their career paths and even their retirement plans. For instance, one woman said, "Due to the pandemic and remote work, expected promotions were postponed indefinitely along with the pay increase that was expected with it. I have experienced a disconnect with my employer on many levels". A second stated, "Advancement opportunities for both short and long term in my current job are no longer an option because of expected budget cuts, hiring freezes, and freezes on new job creations. I was a very good candidate for a job that would be created in the next year that will not be created any time soon". Another simply responded, "No wage increases will impact my long-term retirement benefits", while another reflected that she had "worked very hard producing new things the year before and would have received a merit raise. Due to the pandemic, [I] was told you're lucky you have a job." Finally, one participant exclaimed, "My request for a raise was rejected. I get paid \$1700 a month with a master's degree, and every time I try to advocate for myself, I hear 'be happy you have a job these days'".

#### 4.1.4. Want Change, but Too Risky

Finally, 4.3% of the respondents were unhappy in their position but felt stuck because of the uncertainty of the economy and the potential risk of leaving solid employment. This means women were delaying the pursuit of beneficial career changes. Some wanted to change jobs because they were disappointed in how their employer had approached the pandemic, they felt overworked, or they had a plan pre-pandemic that was delayed. For example, one participant stated, "I had started thinking about looking for other career opportunities, but since the pandemic started, I have felt a need to be 'safe' and keep my current job instead of 'risking' losing what I have and not finding anything". Another simply stated, "I feel I am trying to get through the uncertainties of the pandemic before I try exploring new professional endeavors". A third responded, "I feel very stuck right now. Because of my increased childcare and schooling responsibilities, I feel lucky to just keep up with my increased workload. I don't feel like it's safe to pursue new opportunities right now". Another woman explained, "I'm so burned out with trying to care for my baby and work from home that I'm considering quitting entirely, which was not the plan before. I would like to find a better job at some point, but I feel stuck where I am thanks to the uncertain economy."

A sense of fear also emerged from this respondent: "I want to look for a job that will help me advance my career. I am afraid to make any moves and not being able to pay my bills. This impacts my long-term career goals." Finally, a study participant concluded, "I have been contemplating moving on to a higher-paying job for a while, but the pandemic has put all those ideas on hold".
