Working mothers have historically felt the burden of juggling childcare and professional responsibilities.
Even after receiving maternity leave, some found themselves facing the “maternal wall” as Harvard Business Review researchers have described it. This concept refers to the bias against parents and how their competence is questioned when returning to the workplace.
Mothers in particular are facing pressure to ease the stress that comes with separating home life and work life, and this has been highlighted since the beginning of the pandemic.
In fact, a McKinsey & Co. survey showed that 70% of fathers in a dual-career, straight household thought they could split household duties equally with their partner, compared to just 44% of mothers.
All of this considered, it’s no wonder why flexitime is an absolute necessity to the future of work.
Moving away from the rigid structure of a traditional 9 to 5, flexitime can help employees with their productivity levels. By providing employees with more freedom in when and where they work, research has shown that their productivity can increase.
Additionally, flexitime opens up more time for workers to focus on their mental and physical health. The prioritization of overall employee wellbeing is crucial for a healthy workforce.
Even more, offering flexitime relieves the pressure of separating home and work life. If a child shows up during a Zoom meeting, it is no longer seen as taboo. Providing this deeper understanding and level of empathy in the workplace not only makes workers feel at ease, but it allows them to perform better.
