Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation’s Post

This article is important. Flexible work has created tremendous gains in access to opportunity. Women participating in the workforce at all time highs. People with disabilities participating at all time highs. But for working mothers, there are a lot of other pieces still to figure out to make flexible work reach full potential. Glad to see this discussion coming to light. Great piece in The Wall Street Journal from Rachel Wolfe and Justin Lahart.

In recent years, the American workforce has seen an unprecedented influx of women, driven by high demand for employees, remote work opportunities, and a surge in female entrepreneurship. Women now hold a record 79 million jobs, with 77.9% of women in their prime working years (ages 25-54) either employed or seeking work, up from 75.8% five years ago. However, this surge isn't without challenges. Remote work has enabled many mothers to balance careers with family responsibilities but has also burdened them with additional duties. Many women effectively work two full-time jobs: managing households and careers. Traditional gender roles exacerbate this burden, as women in heterosexual partnerships often take on more childcare responsibilities. The increasing participation of women in the labor force, especially post-pandemic, marks a significant change. The proportion of prime-age women in the workforce reached an all-time high of 78.1% in May. Employers have become more accommodating, recognizing the value mothers bring to the workforce. However, rising living costs necessitate dual incomes for many families, making it harder for women to step away from their jobs without financial repercussions. Despite these gains, women still face disparities, making 17% less than men in similar roles. The U.S. lags behind other high-income countries in public spending on family support, placing a heavier caregiving burden on women. Countries like Japan and Sweden have higher female labor force participation due to more substantial public childcare support. Remote work has also facilitated the entry of women with disabilities into the labor force. Nevertheless, the juggling act between professional and personal responsibilities remains a significant challenge, leaving many women mentally and physically exhausted. In short, while the rise in women's labor force participation is positive, it highlights the need for more supportive policies and societal changes to address the dual burdens faced by working women. #WomenInWorkforce #RemoteWork #GenderEquality #WorkLifeBalance #FemaleEntrepreneurs #ChildcareResponsibility #EqualPay #PublicSupport #WomenWithDisabilities #FlexibleWorkPolicies https://lnkd.in/e9xg7GrY

Thanks in large part to work-from-home options and other flexible arrangements, more women are working than ever -- a win for women and for the economy. But there's a catch, writes the Wall Street Journal. Women with some degree of work flexibility are finding that a disproportionate amount of the household responsibilities are being dumped on them as they essentially manage two jobs. Many of those responsibilities collide with work hours, sometimes by design: school pickup/dropoff, checkups at the pediatrician, shuttling kids to extracurriculars, etc. Even for couples that strive for egalitarian arrangements, the return of strict office policies is forcing inequitable situations in dual-income households because the parent able to hold onto some flexibility has to pick up the slack. In heterosexual partnerships, for example, you might see dads back to suffering through long commutes and missed dinners and bedtimes, while the overburdened moms are just one sick child or traffic snarl away from having to rethink their careers. https://lnkd.in/ePRCzCv4

Poll: post below. In your family, who carries the mental load of scheduling and chauffeuring? Caretaking of elderly parents? Meal planning and cooking? Laundry and cleaning? Who books the babysitter and pays? Researches the kids medical issues and fights with insurance? Organizes vacations and flights? Volunteers in your children’s activities? Remembers birthdays and gets the holiday gifts? You get the idea.

🚨Most women are working 2 full-time jobs. 🚨 If you’re a woman, you likely get it. ✅ The good news: Women are entering the workforce in record numbers. ❌ The bad news: Many are balancing careers AND household duties, effectively working two full-time jobs. The gender divide is still a glaring issue, as women handle more childcare than men. PLUS, the lack of U.S. government support just exacerbates the situation. While countries like Japan and Sweden actually INVEST in family support, the U.S. falls short. WAY short. Childcare is a problem that needs to be solved NOW. Working mothers are burning out. How has the childcare crisis affected you? I want to know.👇🏻 #GenderEquality #WorkLifeBalance #SupportWorkingParents

Great article in the WSJ regarding women and working from home. #Womenover40 are juggling two jobs - their day job/career and the demands of handling home life, which often includes taking care of aging parents. This isn't great news for female leaders who want to tackle it all. This often leads to physical and/or mental burnout. Do you agree? Are we setting WFH women up for failure? https://lnkd.in/eWN_ym4Z

Women balancing work, family, and career face several challenges, including time management issues as they juggle multiple responsibilities. They often experience societal pressure and guilt, feeling the need to excel in both professional and domestic roles. Additionally, they may encounter workplace discrimination, such as limited career advancement opportunities and the gender pay gap. Access to affordable childcare and flexible work arrangements also remains a significant hurdle for many working mothers. We must need to redefine things for women not only AI but also basic structure. #indranooyi #working_moms #future_redefine

Adding this to my #mustwatch list! Thanks for sharing, Women in Sustainability Network. #womensupportingwomen #remoteworking #sustainability #webinar

👉 Women in the U.S. are making significant strides in the workforce, with a record 79 million jobs held, driven by strong demand and remote work. Recent data highlights that nearly 78% of women in their prime working years are currently employed or seeking work, showcasing an increase from almost 76% five years ago. Despite these advancements, a report from The Wall Street Journal sheds light on the challenges faced by women, particularly mothers, working from home. 1️⃣ The struggle to balance family responsibilities with their careers underscores the ongoing gender disparities. 2️⃣ This juggling act often leaves many feeling like they are not meeting their own expectations as both parents and employees‼️ #WomenEmpowerment #WorkLifeBalance #RemoteWork

Flexible working and how it can benefit women's careers 💼 Shape Talent Ltd recently shared new research into the impact of remote working on gender equity. Their findings showed that flexible work enables women to compete better in the workplace (especially those who have children), rather than dropping out of the labour market or choosing part-time jobs. They also discovered that home-working leads to increased productivity, fewer instances of sickness and higher staff retention. Watch the full webinar here 👉 https://lnkd.in/ebYx7FTa #WomenInSustainability #WomensCareers #SDG5 #FlexibleWork