Those in favor of and against RTO policies approach the matter from a generalized perspective and often fail to see its effects on more endangered sections of the workforce. The impact of RTO on working mothers has not been addressed sufficiently in the last two years, as the push to go back to the office full-time is forcing many women to quit their jobs. Remote and hybrid policies award working mothers with greater degrees of flexibility that they cannot enjoy while having to balance their families with in-person work, making it much harder for them to seek and enjoy the perks of employment.
Image: Pexels
The Impact of RTO Policies On Working Mothers Often Goes Unaddressed
A Washington Post report recently analyzed federal labor data to better understand the trends among the workforce, and they noted that the labor participation rates for women aged 25 to 44 with children under 5 fell nearly 3 percentage points between January and June. This marks the lowest levels the numbers have reached in more than three years. In light of the pandemic, many working mothers made significant progress in the workforce, thanks to remote work policies that allowed them to balance their family responsibilities with full-time work. Still, the recent numbers have proved big enough to undo the progress that was made.
The mom exodus following the rise of return-to-office policies has been an inevitable consequence as many are forced to choose between caring for their young ones and earning a living. The report also indicated that the general trend of federal layoffs has also affected the moms in the workforce, forcing them to exit and give up on relying on the government positions that were previously a source of stability.
The Drop in Female Participation in the Workforce Is Concerning
The report also noted that around 212,000 women over 20 have stepped out of the workforce since January, and the numbers were higher among Black women and those aged between 25 to 34. Among other cultural shifts that are discouraging women from working, the decline of diversity-based practices and the parallel rise of “trad-wife” content online is also to blame for encouraging women to take on traditional roles and stay at home to raise their families.
While opting out of the workforce can be a personal choice, the narrative around women participating in the workforce has painted a picture of disapproval for those who want to work instead of fixing the declining birthrate numbers that have been witnessed around the globe. Not only can this hurt their individual finances and prospects in the long run, but the economy could also suffer from a shrinking labor force.
The Motherhood Penalty Continues to Wreck Havoc
The “motherhood penalty” is not a new phenomenon, as women have long been penalized for choosing to start a family, which many see as a voluntary decision to prioritize it over career growth. Most work opportunities are tailored around continuous participation, and for women who need to take a break to have and care for a child, there is often no option but to halt their career and eventually return to a job market that labels them as inexperienced. From hiring opportunities to promotions, women, particularly working mothers, often get left behind.
The lack of social safety nets and support from the system has made it increasingly harder for women to find employment, and the current impact of RTO policies on working mothers is plain to see. Will these numbers convince organizations to reconsider their return-to-office policies to better assist working moms? That seems highly unlikely. From Amazon to AT&T, companies have been unrelenting in their commitment to a full-time return to in-person work.
If the decline in participation continues, not only will many businesses soon lose out on top talent and diverse perspectives to bolster their organization, but they will also have to compete harder for the shrinking number of competent workers on the market with time.
Subscribe to The HR Digest for more insights into the evolving landscape of work and employment right now.
