Initially, remote work was a temporary solution for office workers at the start of the COVID-19 pandemic. Three years later, many working caregivers have found that work-life balance is possible — if they are not forced into the office every day.
Mother Honestly, a caregiving benefits provider for employers, and Care.com, an online marketplace for child care and senior care professionals, teamed up and surveyed over 1,000 caregivers and 500 C-suite executives, HR leaders and senior-level managers about what remote work has meant for families. Notably, 73% of respondents use the time they save working from home to care for their kids, and 70% use it to spend more time with their partner or spouse.
"Simply stated, remote work works," says Natalie Mayslich, president of Care.com. "Time people previously spent commuting now translates into more time with their children and their seniors. This report shows that while remote work may not be the cure-all to making work and life manageable, the relationship between the two is undeniable."
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Mayslich doubts that employers can get rid of remote work now that it's proven to be vital to work-life balance. Still, out of 66% of respondents who can currently work from home in some capacity, only 38% have been notified that they're permanently on a
However, Blessing Adesiyan, founder and CEO of Mother Honestly, believes it's too late for employers to pursue an in-person-only work model.
"I think that ship sailed a long time ago," she says. "Remote work is here to stay, and employers must do the work required to redesign a workplace that is flexible and inclusive or risk losing key talents."
Here are five findings from Mother Honestly and Care.com's