On the female side I'd back employees (7)
I believe the answer is:
distaff
'on the female side' is the definition.
I can't judge whether this definition defines the answer.
'i'd back employees' is the wordplay.
'back' says the letters should be written backwards.
'employees' becomes 'staff' (I've seen this before).
'id' reversed gives 'di'.
'di'+'staff'='DISTAFF'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for distaff that I've seen before include "Stick holding wood, in spinning" , "women's work" , "concerning women" , "Spinner's rod" , "Wool-spinning spindle" .)