Remote working has been a boon for many parents during the pandemic, as they are able to better manage their childcare responsibilities with their work tasks.
However, this isn’t always the case. Remote working has caused instances of more conflict and stress.
The past year has forced many women to leave their careers behind in order to cater to their parental duties. In fact, as of January of this year, there were less than 1.6 million mothers in the workforce.
Now, as parts of the world emerge from the pandemic, self-advocacy is more important than ever before.
This starts with clearly communicating what parents may need from their employer to get their job done effectively and efficiently. Many companies have already opted for this, offering allowances or reimbursements for home office tools, as well as access to resources that support their mental and financial health.
Another challenge for remote teams is the lack of communication, especially for those who will remain in remote positions in the future. For instance, how do companies plan to adjust to hybrid arrangements where some employees are together in an office, and others are still working from home?
Without the proper planning, remote workers may feel left out of the conversation. That’s why business leaders need to ensure that they keep these employees in the loop, even when they aren’t physically present in the office.
