Research finds more expected of working mothers during pandemic

We're not surprised.

As employees begin a phased return to the workplace, more than half (53 per cent) worry that deciding to work remotely post-pandemic will cause workplace inequality, according to the 2021 Matrix Recruitment Workplace Equality Survey. On top of that over half (54 per cent) said that more was expected of mothers when it came to juggling childcare and work during Covid-19 restrictions. According to the 2021 Matrix Recruitment Workplace Equality Survey, 36 per cent of respondents said that the pandemic had created workplace inequality between those with and those without children. Of that cohort 38 per cent were of the view that more work was expected of employees without children However, over half (54 per cent) said that more was expected of mothers when it came to juggling childcare and work during Covid-19 restrictions. Speaking on the subject Breda Dooley, senior manager at Matrix Recruitment, said:

“The past year has been a difficult one for business owners, particularly when it came to supporting workers with children and ensuring there was equal treatment for those without children during the pandemic. The survey findings indicate that many employees without children feel they shouldered a heavier workload over the past year. Meanwhile, it appears that parents who had to juggle work and childcare are frustrated that they were expected to perform to their usual standard at work, despite having added burdens such as home schooling and childcare needs.”

The majority of parents surveyed (63 per cent) say that the pandemic has not made them reconsider their role in the workforce; three per cent quit their job to become a stay-at-home parent over the past year. Ten per cent say they have moved to full-time remote work over the past year in order to spend more time with their children.