Although more women work part-time than men, they have less time free from work. They're more likely to be trying to stitch together several part-time jobs to try to keep their heads above water. But they are far more likely to have less free time because they fulfil unpaid roles. When the order came to work from home, I was part of a team of employees who were mothers. I can testify to the impact of the destruction of their complex key networks of support: the fragile network of schools, nurseries, child minders, members of the family, friends and so on. The vast majority of the responsibilities in terms of care fell on the shoulders of women mainly, and that which was revealed about inequality between the genders is something that we have to take action to change. Because, never mind the wage paid, research shows that women who work have provided more childcare than men on similar wages. In research by Chwarae Teg, it was demonstrated that women had to cut their working hours in order to cope with unpaid work, such as care. And the women who were most vulnerable economically and socially are affected most.

But these inequalities aren't new. For decades, Governments of all colours have failed to support people's ability to meet their fundamental needs and those who are dependent on them. There is a far stronger link as well between overwork and mental health issues amongst women. Even before the pandemic, the levels of stress related to the workforce were three times as high for women. So, how would a four-day week help to tackle inequality?