The Pandemic Transformed How a Generation of Moms Approach Work

Career

Is Quitting the Key to Achieving Better Work-Life Balance?

pregnant woman in yellow flower dress holding her belly

Working mothers are no longer waiting for fair treatment from employers; they’re redefining their careers on their own terms.

By Jamie Thompson
March 8, 2022

It’s Me, Mom

Over a year ago, Emily Carter made the decision to leave her long-standing position as a radiology technologist, and she vividly recalls the moment she reached her limit.

As part of a minimal radiology team, she struggled to manage the high volume of patients from her hospital’s trauma E.R. Staff shortages during the pandemic forced her and her colleagues into frequent mandatory overtime. “Management claimed to support working moms, but that was far from the reality,” Emily says.

During Mother’s Day weekend, a toddler and his baby sister arrived in her department for scans, both suspected victims of abuse. With her own children at home, of similar ages, she stepped away from the lab for the first time in her career, overwhelmed by emotion. “That weekend, I thought, ‘I need to leave. I’m done.’ It completely shattered me.”

Through a colleague, she discovered a new role that would remove her from the daily pressures of radiology and shift her focus to staff training. She applied immediately. While it was a lateral move with only a slight pay increase, she needed the flexibility to care for her children. Had her husband not been there to take on the primary caregiving role, maintaining any work schedule would have been impossible.

Working Moms Playing Catch-Up

Many women exited the workforce entirely during the pandemic’s first two years, and the losses remain evident according to the latest U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics data. While men have fully regained their jobs since February 2020, there are still 1.1 million fewer women participating in the labor force.

For mothers like Emily who stayed employed, the emphasis shifted towards finding positions with flexible hours and even declining higher-paying opportunities. “Before this new role, I applied for a manager position because I knew I could handle it. But I withdrew my application. I just couldn’t; my kids are too young,” she explains.

She is not alone. A 2021 McKinsey survey found that one in three working moms considered reducing their work commitments or leaving their jobs altogether since the pandemic began.

Desiring Flexibility in Work

Like Emily, Olivia Garcia faced challenges in a field where remote work was not an option during the pandemic’s early days. As a bioinformatics scientist at a Texas university, she needed to be on-site for lab experiments. Her 16-month-old son was in daycare but frequently had to stay home due to strict COVID-19 policies, leading Olivia to often volunteer for leave instead of her husband.

“The expectation is that the mom will handle it,” Olivia states. “Even the daycare contacts me first for decisions.” She admits that sharing childcare responsibilities with her husband didn’t come easily. Eventually, she started asking him to take time off instead of volunteering herself. “I learned to brace for the awkward silence,” she laughs. “Society expects us as mothers to take charge.”

Despite having a partner to share childcare, Olivia longed for a job that offered remote flexibility. Earning $53,000 at the time, she researched data analysis opportunities that could be performed remotely rather than in the lab.

After consulting a career coach and applying for new positions, she quickly received three job offers. She ultimately accepted a role that more than doubled her salary and allowed her to work from home full-time, starting in early March. “I’m excited to afford some small luxuries that will free up more time for my son,” she says. “I’ll have a regular housecleaning schedule and be able to order takeout more than once a week, which will be a big deal.”

Navigating Motherhood in a Post-Pandemic Landscape

The pandemic undoubtedly impacted working mothers significantly, but the struggle to find workplace support began long before COVID-19. The persistent gender wage gap and the absence of mandatory paid parental leave have long inhibited women’s earning potential. Additionally, the societal expectation that domestic responsibilities largely fall to women exacerbates the pressure on working mothers.

The controversial Build Back Better Plan, advocated by President Biden, failed to gain Congressional approval last year, squashing hopes for universal benefits like paid parental leave and preschool for 3- and 4-year-olds. Whether employers will create more supportive environments for working moms and parents remains uncertain. Like Emily and Olivia, many working mothers are realizing they can no longer afford to wait.

For more information on ways to navigate the journey of motherhood and work-life balance, check out this insightful post on home insemination and explore resources from Healthline for pregnancy support.

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Summary:

The pandemic has reshaped the work landscape for a generation of mothers, forcing them to reevaluate their careers and prioritize flexibility over traditional job roles. As many women left the workforce, those who remained shifted their focus towards positions that accommodate their family responsibilities. With ongoing challenges like the gender wage gap and inadequate parental leave policies, working mothers like Emily and Olivia are taking control of their career paths, seeking opportunities that allow them to balance work and family life on their own terms.

Keyphrase: Pandemic impact on working mothers

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