Yesterday was supposed to be the day. I had been thinking about writing this essay since I first came back to work after maternity leave. My son, Jack, my first child, was born in March. I relished our time getting to know each other before I started back to work Read more…
By Lindsey Giardino, Freelance contributor With five generations now active in the workforce, caregiving responsibilities are increasingly shaping what employees need — and expect — from their employers. New research from Principal Financial Group “Work & Worth: Insights on Stress, Money and Well-Being in the Modern Workplace” found that caregivers Read more…
Compiled by Emily Barske Wood and Macey Shofroth This coverage is from the Business Record’s annual survey on women’s and gender issues as part of our Fearless initiative. While nonscientific, we believe the results of this questionnaire illustrate current opinions about Iowa women’s equity in and outside of work. Read Read more…
BY CAROLINE SIEBELS-LINDQUIST, FREELANCE CONTRIBUTOR Iowa’s government officials and advocacy organizations continue to look for solutions to the state’s child care crisis. On April 9, Gov. Kim Reynolds signed into law House File 2514, which ensures that children of child care workers are eligible for the state child care assistance Read more…
Compiled by Macey Shofroth and Emily Barske Wood More than two-thirds of Iowa women say they have experienced gender bias at work, according to a recent Business Record survey. Respondents noted challenges related to child care, not being taken seriously and wage disparities as some of the main causes of Read more…
BY HANNAH INMAN, GUEST CONTRIBUTOR I remember vividly when I found out that I’d be adding mom to my list of other roles — wife, daughter, sister, employee, friend. Of course, I was elated. But once the excitement and butterflies settled down, the practical side of being a working mother Read more…
Editor’s note: Researchers at the University of Kansas recently found that American dads are spending more time with their children today than they were prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. A study done by the Institute for Family Studies shows that trend began long before the pandemic. Fathers in certain populations Read more…
According to the Center for Disease Control, 30 states had reported a total of 935 confirmed measles cases as of May 1, 2025. The United States declared the virus eliminated in 2000, but experts say a decrease in vaccination rates has led to the return of the virus. Three measles deaths Read more…
Compiled by Macey Shofroth and Emily Barske Wood Nearly 500 people, a record number, shared with us their thoughts about the status of gender equity in Iowa. The Business Record has published its annual survey on women’s and gender issues as part of our Fearless initiative for the last several Read more…
Shane and Jackee Austerman with their children, Isaiah and Elizabeth. Contributed photo. Shane and Jackee Austerman’s children, Isaiah, 15, and Elizabeth, 12, were born with phenylketonuria, or PKU, a rare genetic disorder where the body is unable to produce an enzyme that breaks down the amino acid phenylalanine. Their diagnoses Read more…