Working Parents Want Remote Work After Pandemic, Survey Finds

In a post-pandemic world, 61% of working parents want remote work full-time, while 37% prefer a hybrid work arrangement, according to a survey commissioned by Flexjobs.com. Additionally, 62% say they would quit their current job if they can’t continue remote work.

Between March and April 2021, FlexJobs.com, a remote work employment website,  surveyed more than 1,100 parents with children 18 or younger living at home.

While 43% of respondents said their employment situation was unchanged, the majority were impacted in some way due to childcare responsibilities:

• 21% reduced their hours
• 16% quit their job but plan to return to the workforce
• 4% had their partner reduce their hours
• 2% quit their job and do not plan on returning to the workforce
• 2% had a partner who quit their job

To keep their remote work arrangements, parents say they are willing to give up other benefits:

• Some vacation time: 23%
• Take a 10% pay cut: 19%
• Work more hours: 17%
• Health benefits: 16%
• Employer-matching retirement contributions: 13%

Parents say flexible schedules and working from home full-time have the greatest impact on their ability to manage their professional and childcare responsibilities. When asked what work arrangement would be most helpful, they reported:

• Flexible schedule (having some control over when you work): 26%
• Working from home full-time: 25%
• Allowing my children to be at home during the workday (having a work environment that understands childcare demands): 17%
• Working from home part-time: 15%
• Freelancing: 10%
• Alternative schedule (such as 6:00 a.m. until 2:00 p.m. or a 4-day work week): 7%

These work arrangements can make a difference to working parents.

• 60% of working parents say they have experienced burnout over the last year, compared to 56% of the general population
• 41% of working parents say their mental health is worse today (compared to before the pandemic), versus 38% of the general population
• 19% are worried that working remotely has hurt their chances of promotion, but only 14% of the general respondents say the same thing
• 22% of working parents say they think their skills suffered during the pandemic, compared to 19% of the general population
• 82% of working parents say work-life balance is the most important factor they consider when evaluating a new job, unlike the general population, which ranks salary (80%) as most important