The Covid-19 pandemic has forced many people into a work from home arrangement. There have been many changes to the nature of how we work. For many, remote work may be a positive change—we can avoid the morning commute and wear pajamas pants all day. But for many women, working remotely is challenging on many levels. As we have reached past the half-way point of 2022, it is time for women to take a long look at their careers and see what changes they need to make to succeed in this new workplace paradigm.
Pros of remote work for women
Flexibility and autonomy have helped many women reclaim valuable time while juggling work and home responsibilities. However, remote work has its own set of issues, and merely allowing people to work from home is insufficient. As we make a move to remote work, now is the moment to be attentive – and to assist women in business more than ever.
Employees’ true sense of flexibility from working remotely is one of the largest advantages we have observed. This may have given working women, in particular, the chance to better manage work and home life without sacrificing opportunities that contribute to career advancement. The benefits for many are clear. For many, this new change has allowed for better work-life balance without the strain of a stressful commute or the requirement to be physically present in the workplace. But this is only a small part of the story.
Cons of remote work for women
Even though, the change to remote work has provided many benefits, we cannot ignore the many difficulties it presents. For example, all working parents and caregivers are affected by the pandemic, but research indicates that women have carried out a larger proportion of unpaid care duties, such as housework, childcare, and eldercare as a result.
Outside-of-work networking is common and helps to advance one’s career. Women may find it more difficult to promote themselves if they do not have those unexpected opportunities to connect with others. The number of women who nominate themselves for advancement in the workplace is already low, and the working from home arrangement could further reduce this.
How does remote work operate for you?
We believe in the potential of remote work and the benefits it provides to women. We have seen how increased flexibility may assist women in achieving a better work-life balance and finding a sense of belonging in their jobs. However, we cannot deny that, since March of 2020, the circumstances driving greater remote work adoption have harmed women more than it has empowered them.
The ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and inadequate remote work arrangements continue to jeopardize women’s advancement and safety in the workplace. We must admit that governments and businesses have failed to provide women with equal economic opportunity, safety, and a sense of belonging in the workplace. We know the of belonging in the community and the workplace. Businesses must be committed to driving the change needed, to identify barriers impacting on women, and to provide avenues to address these to nurture the sense of belonging.
In conclusion, remote working is a reality of the modern workplace, and we must learn how to navigate it. While there is a myriad of challenges for many women with these new arrangements, with forethought, attention to your unique needs and boundaries, you can make it work for you. It is important to communicate these needs, and businesses have a duty of care to ensure that new arrangements do not put undue strain on employees.