The coronavirus pandemic has indefinitely redefined what the home is. We are no longer just working from home, we are trying to live at work, and are relying more on mobile technology to survive.
According to research conducted by WerkLabs, the data and insights division of The Mom Project, there is a 70 percent increase of women reporting they conduct at least half of their work on a mobile device compared to pre-pandemic work.
The dramatic increase is even more prevalent among working moms, who report an 80 percent increase in mobile device use for work during the pandemic, compared to 30 percent for non-moms. More than 90 percent of those surveyed report using their mobile device to respond to emails throughout the day, while other popular apps include Zoom, LinkedIn, Slack, and G Suite.
While mobile devices make remote communication and work more accessible, it also comes with added stress as 72 percent of women surveyed report that using their mobile device for work results in feeling more pressure to stay online throughout the day.
“The coronavirus pandemic has transformed our homes into all-encompassing abodes, and women, especially working moms, are doing whatever they can to remain productive and connected throughout the day,” said Dr. Pamela Cohen, President of WerkLabs. “Moms can’t sit at a computer screen from 9-5 Monday through Friday as they juggle an endless list of responsibilities ranging from virtual schooling to childcare, and this data reveals how many are getting their work done by any means necessary.”
While the pandemic has had adverse effects on all aspects of life, working parents have been some of the hardest hit. According to reports, more than 50% of working parents are without childcare, and 1 in 5 said either they or their partner are considering leaving the workforce to care for their children. A LinkedIn poll further highlights those concerns with 64 percent of respondents saying they have considered leaving the workforce voluntarily due to the increasing strain from COVID-19.
Help may be on the way. The House of Representatives on July 29 passed two bills that provide more than $60 billion in direct funding for the childcare industry in an effort to help providers across the country reopen and improve the safety of their programs during the pandemic.
As the childcare industry begins its rebirth, the majority of the childcare responsibilities still falls on the shoulders of working moms—full-time working mothers in two-parent households are doing on average around 22 hours of childcare a week during COVID-19 in addition to maintaining their jobs.
Even though the majority of those surveyed by WerkLabs cite the need to respond in a more timely manner for their increase in mobile device usage for work, 59 percent of moms with kids ages 0-12 report this necessity in order to work and look after their children simultaneously.
The economic impact of working moms’ coronavirus-related anxiety is estimated at $341 billion. Women have also reported being almost twice as likely as their male counterparts to leave their employer within a year’s time due to their workplace experience during the pandemic.
To help alleviate some of this stress and continue its unwavering support of working women, The Mom Project unveiled The Stronger Together Fund and a variety of programs and resources including Unity, Resume Rev, and RALLY.
About The Mom Project
The Mom Project is the leader in helping businesses attract and retain female talent. With a community of more than 300,000 talented professionals connecting to 2,000+ companies, The Mom Project is committed to building a better workplace by harnessing the oft-overlooked intellectual workplace power of moms. The Chicago-based company was founded in 2016 by Allison Robinson, who serves as CEO, and has raised $36M in funding to date. Serena Williams joined The Mom Project as a Strategic Advisor in early 2020 to further mobilize the mission.