Hybrid work: The oasis women and working parents crave
Glassdoor Team
Glassdoor Team | Author & Career Expert at Glassdoor | Jul 25, 2024
Hybrid work is still hot. Two years after Glassdoor declared “return to office” the word of the year, experts, economists, and executives continue to debate the balance between facetime and flexibility.
A recent Glassdoor community poll revealed that 72% of women professionals would prefer to work remotely. An additional poll found that 47% currently have a hybrid work schedule (compared to 52% of male professionals). Many women — and full-time working moms in particular — say that a job having some degree of hybrid work is non-negotiable.
Saving time and money on commuting, professional clothing, and food are still strong arguments for hybrid and remote work. One professional in the Women in Tech Bowl said they save $800 a month by not going into the office. Yet, the benefits of remote work go beyond the bank account. Surveys and anecdotal data show that flexible work arrangements support equity and work-life balance.
Why women prefer hybrid work
Women who work hybrid schedules say the flexibility of their jobs improves their health, increases productivity, supports them as caregivers, and accelerates their careers. According to an International Workplace Group (IWG) survey:
- 88% believe hybrid working “serves as an equalizer in the workplace”
- 83% believe hybrid working “allows me to prioritize my physical and mental health”
- 82% believe that “hybrid working allows me to prioritize my family and children”
- 66% believe hybrid working “allows me to experience less biases in the workplace, whether due to my gender, race or otherwise”
“No code-switching,” said one member of the Women of Color Professionals Bowl when asked about a remote work benefit, magnifying what other research has shown: women and people of color are generally happier working from home.
They added, “[I] can lie in bed to work instead of taking off work entirely when I can’t manage the hour commute on public transit when I get a flare-up of my chronic illness.”
Another person shared, “My cleaners bill, gas, insurance, mileage is all slashed. Lunches out are nonexistent unless I’m schmoozing a client, but that’s on my company. I can shower and work in my bathrobe, work out any time of the day....”
49% of respondents in the IWG survey noted that they leveraged that flexibility to support their careers. In addition to flexibility, employees can reinvest the extra hours that are normally spent on a commute into their careers, allowing more time for additional education, training, and development.
Health benefits of remote work for women
From more time to relax or sleep (61%) to better eating habits (57%), a staggering 96% of respondents in the IWG survey believe that hybrid working allows for a healthier lifestyle.
Community members in the Female Bosses Bowl echoed this sentiment. One professional said, “Just because I’m remote does not mean I’m always available…do not de-prioritize your well-being for a job.”
Another added that they are more comfortable taking sick days as a remote worker, which, in turn, improves their work output overall.
Why remote work is better for parents
For working parents, it’s the small, but memorable moments that matter most. Parents in the Work-Life Bowl say that remote and hybrid arrangements allow them more time to be present in their kids’ lives without having to take PTO. They appreciate being able to attend activities at school or appointments and being closer to the school in case of an emergency. One parent noted, “My kid's school has 20 holidays. I only get 20 days of PTO. Without WFH, I would never get a weeklong vacation.”
Another theme was that not having a daily commute gives parents more time to tend to household responsibilities between meetings, save money, and spend more quality time with their families, overall.
One parent said, “The biggest thing was just being there for my child. I've worked from home for the last four years so I was able to be more attentive during the high school years when my daughter needed me, especially at the beginning of COVID. I continue to WFH for the return of personal time and the boost to finances.”
“To be honest I don't see downsides. We both can't stand office culture or commuting so we're much more relaxed and stress-free, and that helps us to be better parents,” said another commenter.
Set better boundaries to thrive in remote work
Women and parents may gravitate toward remote and hybrid work, but these types of arrangements still present challenges. Hybrid workers may overcome them by understanding how to establish personal and professional boundaries to prevent burnout.
Want to learn more? Join the conversation for tips from other workers on how to make the most out of remote or hybrid work.
Glassdoor Team
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