COVID-19: The Plight of Working Parents

In a matter of days and hours, COVID-19 brought work, school and caregiving together in unprecedented ways. Now, today's work experience has the potential to significantly impact working parents (mothers in particular) going forward -- for the better or for the worse. How employers reboot their workplace in the coming months could make all the difference in the future of work for working parents.

As two working mothers ourselves, and leaders of firms working in the realm of Gender Inclusion and HR Operations, we know now is the time to highlight for employers what they need to consider in how they construct work in support of working parents. Your input here will inform the recommendations and counsel we provide to employers with whom we work, and hopefully create a better workplace for everyone.

Stacey Delo (CEO, Après) and Elizabeth Scott (Partner, Nua Group)

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* 1. Are you currently employed?

Full-time

Part-time

Project based / Freelance or Contract

Not working

Job hunting

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* 2. How has the COVID-19 crisis affected your job status? (Please check all that apply.)

No impact

Took a pay cut

Reduced my hours

Taking paid leave

Furloughed

Laid off

Left my job (quit)

Doing my job from home

Still working outside the home

At a standstill because there is no new work coming in

Took a new job during COVID-19

Workload has increased significantly

Other (please specify)

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* 3. What is your job level?

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* 4. Do you manage people?

Yes

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* 5. What industry are you in?

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* 6. If you are working, how worried are you about losing your job as a result of COVID-19?

Somewhat worried

Very worried

Not worried

Already lost my job

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* 7. Are you caregiving for any of the following (outside of professional capacity)? (Select all that apply.)

Children

Elderly

None

Other (please specify)

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* 8. If you have children, are you supporting school from home / distance learning as a result of COVID019?

Yes

Do not have children

We were homeschooling prior to COVID-19

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* 9. During COVID-19 shelter in place, in a given week, what percentage of YOUR time, are you spending on the following daily activities?

	0-20%	21-40%	41%-60%	61-80%	81-100%
School from Home	School from Home 0-20%	School from Home 21-40%	School from Home 41%-60%	School from Home 61-80%	School from Home 81-100%
Other Child Care	Other Child Care 0-20%	Other Child Care 21-40%	Other Child Care 41%-60%	Other Child Care 61-80%	Other Child Care 81-100%
Elderly Care	Elderly Care 0-20%	Elderly Care 21-40%	Elderly Care 41%-60%	Elderly Care 61-80%	Elderly Care 81-100%
Household Work	Household Work 0-20%	Household Work 21-40%	Household Work 41%-60%	Household Work 61-80%	Household Work 81-100%
Professional Work	Professional Work 0-20%	Professional Work 21-40%	Professional Work 41%-60%	Professional Work 61-80%	Professional Work 81-100%

Other (please specify)

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* 10. During COVID-19 shelter in place, if you have a partner, how are these daily activities split among you?

	I do majority	Partner does majority	We split 50/50
School from Home	School from Home I do majority	School from Home Partner does majority	School from Home We split 50/50
Other Child Care	Other Child Care I do majority	Other Child Care Partner does majority	Other Child Care We split 50/50
Elderly Care	Elderly Care I do majority	Elderly Care Partner does majority	Elderly Care We split 50/50
Household Work	Household Work I do majority	Household Work Partner does majority	Household Work We split 50/50
Professional Work	Professional Work I do majority	Professional Work Partner does majority	Professional Work We split 50/50

Other (please specify)

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* 11. If possible, please compare how much time you're devoting to these daily activities vs before COVID-19.

	None	Same	Less	More	Lots More
School from Home	School from Home None	School from Home Same	School from Home Less	School from Home More	School from Home Lots More
Other Child Care	Other Child Care None	Other Child Care Same	Other Child Care Less	Other Child Care More	Other Child Care Lots More
Elderly Care	Elderly Care None	Elderly Care Same	Elderly Care Less	Elderly Care More	Elderly Care Lots More
Household Work	Household Work None	Household Work Same	Household Work Less	Household Work More	Household Work Lots More
Professional Work	Professional Work None	Professional Work Same	Professional Work Less	Professional Work More	Professional Work Lots More

Other (please specify)

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* 12. Which of these best describe your feelings during COVID-19 (check all that apply):

Bored

Exhausted

Stretched too thin

Confused

Fearful

Guilty that others are taking on some of my work because I'm a parent

Upset because I think I'm being passed over for projects because I'm a parent

Worried that if I communicate my needs it will jeopardize my job security

Happy to have more time with my family

Appreciate I don't have a commute right now

Enjoying ability to explore different hobbies

Really enjoying working from home

I feel like I have improved work-life balance because of working from home

I feel more productive at work

It's possible to work from home while caregiving/homeschooling

It's really hard to work from home while caregiving/homeschooling

Other (please specify)

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* 13. On a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being outstanding), how would you rate how your company is doing to support you during shelter in place? If you're not employed please indicate in the "other" box.

Other (please specify)

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* 14. On a scale of 1 to 5 (5 being outstanding), how would you rate how your manager is doing to support you during shelter in place? If you're not employed please indicate in the "other" box.

Other (please specify)

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* 15. Please rank what your employer is offering during shelter in place in terms of level of importance to you and/or your family (rank 1 to 5 with 5 being very important and 1 not important at all). If you're not employed please indicate in the "other" box.

	Not Offered	1	2	3	4	5
Time off with pay	Time off with pay Not Offered	Time off with pay 1	Time off with pay 2	Time off with pay 3	Time off with pay 4	Time off with pay 5
Reduced hours (same or reduced pay)	Reduced hours (same or reduced pay) Not Offered	Reduced hours (same or reduced pay) 1	Reduced hours (same or reduced pay) 2	Reduced hours (same or reduced pay) 3	Reduced hours (same or reduced pay) 4	Reduced hours (same or reduced pay) 5
Flexible work schedule	Flexible work schedule Not Offered	Flexible work schedule 1	Flexible work schedule 2	Flexible work schedule 3	Flexible work schedule 4	Flexible work schedule 5
Work share / greater support to delegate?	Work share / greater support to delegate? Not Offered	Work share / greater support to delegate? 1	Work share / greater support to delegate? 2	Work share / greater support to delegate? 3	Work share / greater support to delegate? 4	Work share / greater support to delegate? 5
Reduction in objectives / workload / responsibilities	Reduction in objectives / workload / responsibilities Not Offered	Reduction in objectives / workload / responsibilities 1	Reduction in objectives / workload / responsibilities 2	Reduction in objectives / workload / responsibilities 3	Reduction in objectives / workload / responsibilities 4	Reduction in objectives / workload / responsibilities 5
Interim different role	Interim different role Not Offered	Interim different role 1	Interim different role 2	Interim different role 3	Interim different role 4	Interim different role 5
Access to additional support resources	Access to additional support resources Not Offered	Access to additional support resources 1	Access to additional support resources 2	Access to additional support resources 3	Access to additional support resources 4	Access to additional support resources 5
Unpaid sabbatical	Unpaid sabbatical Not Offered	Unpaid sabbatical 1	Unpaid sabbatical 2	Unpaid sabbatical 3	Unpaid sabbatical 4	Unpaid sabbatical 5
Adjust meetings to not align with start of school (specifically)	Adjust meetings to not align with start of school (specifically) Not Offered	Adjust meetings to not align with start of school (specifically) 1	Adjust meetings to not align with start of school (specifically) 2	Adjust meetings to not align with start of school (specifically) 3	Adjust meetings to not align with start of school (specifically) 4	Adjust meetings to not align with start of school (specifically) 5
Better communication around company status	Better communication around company status Not Offered	Better communication around company status 1	Better communication around company status 2	Better communication around company status 3	Better communication around company status 4	Better communication around company status 5
Better communication of work expectations during this time	Better communication of work expectations during this time Not Offered	Better communication of work expectations during this time 1	Better communication of work expectations during this time 2	Better communication of work expectations during this time 3	Better communication of work expectations during this time 4	Better communication of work expectations during this time 5
Better understanding of how performance will be managed/viewed during this time	Better understanding of how performance will be managed/viewed during this time Not Offered	Better understanding of how performance will be managed/viewed during this time 1	Better understanding of how performance will be managed/viewed during this time 2	Better understanding of how performance will be managed/viewed during this time 3	Better understanding of how performance will be managed/viewed during this time 4	Better understanding of how performance will be managed/viewed during this time 5
Better tech set up for me (stronger WiFi, device)	Better tech set up for me (stronger WiFi, device) Not Offered	Better tech set up for me (stronger WiFi, device) 1	Better tech set up for me (stronger WiFi, device) 2	Better tech set up for me (stronger WiFi, device) 3	Better tech set up for me (stronger WiFi, device) 4	Better tech set up for me (stronger WiFi, device) 5
Better tech set up for my kids (i.e., laptop for learning)	Better tech set up for my kids (i.e., laptop for learning) Not Offered	Better tech set up for my kids (i.e., laptop for learning) 1	Better tech set up for my kids (i.e., laptop for learning) 2	Better tech set up for my kids (i.e., laptop for learning) 3	Better tech set up for my kids (i.e., laptop for learning) 4	Better tech set up for my kids (i.e., laptop for learning) 5
Meal delivery benefits	Meal delivery benefits Not Offered	Meal delivery benefits 1	Meal delivery benefits 2	Meal delivery benefits 3	Meal delivery benefits 4	Meal delivery benefits 5
Coaching	Coaching Not Offered	Coaching 1	Coaching 2	Coaching 3	Coaching 4	Coaching 5
Mental health benefits	Mental health benefits Not Offered	Mental health benefits 1	Mental health benefits 2	Mental health benefits 3	Mental health benefits 4	Mental health benefits 5
Child care credits / back up child care	Child care credits / back up child care Not Offered	Child care credits / back up child care 1	Child care credits / back up child care 2	Child care credits / back up child care 3	Child care credits / back up child care 4	Child care credits / back up child care 5
Clear understanding of return to work strategy after shelter in place	Clear understanding of return to work strategy after shelter in place Not Offered	Clear understanding of return to work strategy after shelter in place 1	Clear understanding of return to work strategy after shelter in place 2	Clear understanding of return to work strategy after shelter in place 3	Clear understanding of return to work strategy after shelter in place 4	Clear understanding of return to work strategy after shelter in place 5

Other (please specify)

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* 16. Over the coming months, which of these would be most helpful for your employer to offer? (Check all that apply.)

Time off with pay

Reduced hours (same or reduced pay)

Flexible work schedule

Work share / greater support to delegate?

Reduction in objectives / workload / responsibilities

Interim different role

Access to additional support resources

Unpaid sabbatical

Adjust meetings to not align with start of school (specifically)

Better communication around company status

Better communication of work expectations during this time

Better understanding of how performance will be managed/viewed during this time

Better tech set up for me (stronger WiFi, device)

Better tech set up for my kids (i.e., laptop for learning)

Meal delivery benefits

Coaching

Mental health benefits

Child care credits / back up child care

Clear understanding of return to work strategy after shelter in place

I do not plan to return to work.

Other (please specify)

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* 17. What are you most worried about in terms of returning to work when shelter in place is lifted? (Check all that apply)

Loss of flexibility

Balancing work and child care

Upward mobility

Reintegrating with my team

Job security

Other (please specify)

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* 18. What are you most hopeful about in terms of the future of work?

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* 19. What is your age?

18 to 24

25 to 34

35 to 44

45 to 54

55 to 64

65 to 74

75 or older

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* 20. What is your gender?

Female

Male

Other (please specify)

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* 21. Which of the following best describes your current relationship status?

Married

Widowed

Divorced

Separated

In a domestic partnership or civil union

Single, but cohabiting with a significant other

Single, never married

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* 22. Please indicate the school age of any children currently living in your house. (Check all that apply.)

Less than 1 year old

Preschool age

Elementary school age

Middle School age

High School age

College age and above

Other (please specify)

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* 23. Which ethnicity/race/origin best describes you? (Please choose only one.)

American Indian or Alaska Native

Asian

Black or African American

Hispanic or Latino

Native Hawaiian or Other Pacific Islander

White

Multiple ethnicity, race or other origin (please specify)

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* 24. What is your approximate average household income?

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* 25. In what state or U.S. territory do you live?

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* 26. Let's keep the conversation going! Please enter your email so we can send you our findings from this survey along with helpful resources and articles around work and parenting.

Email Address

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* 27. We work with many companies big and small. If you'd like to, please share the name of your employer.

Company