WHAT GOVERNMENTS
Mainstreaming remote work solutions and software Flexible work arrangements let women regain control over their time , making it easier to manage both their work and home-care responsibilities . As the pandemic forced many office workers to stay home , workplaces mainstreamed existing “ asynchronous ” communication tools to support their remote staff . Slack helps workers across time zones communicate efficiently , for example , while Asana allows remote teams to organize projects . Calendly helps colleagues across locations schedule virtual meetings , and systems like Gusto streamline payroll processes for small businesses .
ARE DOING Governments worldwide have
TO HELP taken measures
that enable mothers to pursue available jobs .
According to the COVID-19 Global Gender Response Tracker from the United Nations Development Program and UN Women , Argentina has boosted child allowance payments , while Canada , Spain , and South Korea have provided cash benefits to parents impacted by school or day care closures . Ensuring economic stability for working parents is a priority for President Biden ’ s administration , whose
proposed relief package Otter ,
Rev , and
Caption First lets workers consume information on their own time , whether after their kids ’ bedtimes or before school .
Virtual child care and other tools Cecil has continued working part-time from a studio in her basement , typically at night . When she ’ s needed to work during the day , she has turned to
Flexable , a virtual backup child-care service . Her seven-year-old son engaged with a caregiver over video chat while she priced a commission — and those 30 uninterrupted minutes provided the focus needed to complete the sale .
Creative child-care solutions have been a key piece of the puzzle to keep mothers working because “ everybody felt this , whether they were an hourly worker or the CEO of a major organization ,” says Priya Amin , CEO and cofounder of Flexable . “ There were eyes on child care in a way that there haven ’ t been since World War II .”
Many businesses are also seeking to deploy interventions and retooled benefits , such as increased child care subsidies or special leave for parents . Caregiver resource groups allow employees to swap tips for homeschooling and provide a forum to share experiences , while remote benefits can be redesigned to incorporate services tailored to specific pandemic stressors . Employee assistance programs could include resources for virtual tutors with experience supporting neurodiverse students , says Dagit , as managing remote schooling for the estimated
one in five children with learning disabilities would aid working parents .
In another initiative , some employers have ushered in Friday afternoons without meetings , says Matt Krentz , the diversity , equity , and inclusion and leadership chair at Boston Consulting Group ( BCG ). Others have also provided staff with mental health apps like Headspace and Calm as part of their tool kit to manage working from home . Importantly , employers are focusing on results rather than face time , a culture shift that benefits women .
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