When the pandemic ushered in a rapid shift to remote work, employees and managers alike were uncertain about the change. Employees who are parents and/or family caregivers, many of whom shifted their careers to meet the new demands of their home lives, feared lost opportunities and work-life balance. Employers worried about a loss of productivity. Now, The Modern Workplace Report from Care.com and Mother Honestly shows those fears were unfounded.
Three years into the remote work revolution, many employees are thriving and support from managers is strong. It’s clear from the survey findings that employees and managers agree: remote work offers serious advantages.
How the pandemic changed work for the better
The vast majority of employees (76%) say having the ability to work remotely improves their overall quality of life, and their managers (77%) agree.
Before the pandemic, nearly two-thirds of Americans say they rarely or never worked from home. Now, more than half (56%) say their employers have switched to a hybrid work model either permanently or temporarily. Employee caregivers working in these hybrid environments say the shift has resulted in:
- Greater overall happiness (56% vs. 22% in-office full-time).
- Less stress (54% vs. 24%).
- Improved quality of life (53% vs. 26%).
- More life balance (49% vs. 27%).
- More career fulfillment (46% vs. 29%).
Remote work benefits caregivers at work and at home
The pandemic not only changed how people work, it also made employers more responsive to the needs of employee caregivers. According to the survey, increased remote work options have led to:
1. Better work-life balance
Flexibility at work means caregivers have more time outside of work to meet the needs of their households and families, including the family members they care for directly.
Overall:
- 73% say they spend more time with their kids.
- 70% report more time spent with their partner.
- 66% spend more time with aging loved ones in their care.
- 71% have more time for household chores.
Of those caring for seniors, 60% say remote work enables them to better track the health and well-being of aging loved ones in their care. Additionally, many enjoy an increased ability to see friends (56%), sleep (63%) and participate in leisure activities (67%).
2. Increased sharing of household duties
Since women entered the workforce, they’ve also handled most of the “second shift,” i.e., the chores and child care required before and after paid work. Responses to the survey suggest remote work is helping to shift this dynamic.
According to the survey, both men and women say moving from in-office to a hybrid work model has impacted their share of household duties similarly. Participants report spending more time on:
- Overall household work (35% men, 34% women).
- Caregiving (40% men, 39% women).
- Cleaning (32% men, 37% women).
- Cooking (34% men, 35% women).
Additionally, nearly half (47%) of male caregivers with a child under the age of 15 say, “I personally spend more time on child care when working remotely, which saves my spouse or partner some time.”
3. Leveling of the playing field
Historically, women’s careers are more likely to be disrupted by caregiver duties. This was clear in 2020 when 3.5 million mothers with school-age children either lost their jobs, took paid or unpaid leave or left the workforce entirely. Remote work hasn’t solved this problem, but survey data suggests it’s creating a more equal workplace for women and men.
The majority of men and women (77%) equally report that the wide adoption of remote work has created a more even playing field for career advancement across gender lines. Additionally, men and women alike report increased access to:
- Paid time off and sick time (28% women, 30% men).
- Flexible hours (54% women, 57% men).
- Deadline flexibility (24% women, 30% men).
4. Increased productivity
Compared to their in-office counterparts, more than half (55%) of surveyed employees say they’re more productive working remotely. What’s more, a nearly equal number of managers (58%) agree.
Some increased productivity may be attributed to eliminating long commutes. By avoiding a commute:
- 88% of employees save more than 30 minutes a day.
- 67% of employees save an hour or more per day.
Increased productivity may also be related to increased employee satisfaction. Though 46% of employees report working more hours when they work from home, most employees (53%) still prefer remote work. In this way, the flexibility afforded by working from home is a win for caregivers and companies alike.
Care.com Modern Workplace Report survey methodology
The Care.com and Mother Honestly Modern Workplace Report polled 1,000 employee caregivers and 500 decision-makers from September 2-5, 2022. All employee caregivers directly care for at least one senior adult or child under 15 and have both in-person and remote full-time employment experience. All decision makers are executives, HR management or senior management at employers with more than 200 employees. The surveys were conducted using the online survey platform, Pollfish, and compiled by DKC Analytics.
About Care.com
Available in more than 20 countries, Care.com is the world’s leading platform for finding and managing high-quality family care. Care.com is designed to meet the evolving needs of today’s families and caregivers, offering everything from household tax and payroll services and customized corporate benefits packages covering the care needs of working families, to innovating new ways for caregivers to be paid and obtain professional benefits. Since 2007, families have relied on Care.com’s industry-leading products — from child and senior care to pet care and home care. Care.com is an IAC company (NASDAQ: IAC).
