Working Parents Changing Job Status in Response to Virtual Learning

• Author: William Asher
• Posted: 2024-06-26

A new study has highlighted the immense ramifications in the employment sector as parents have to deal with the challenge of virtual schooling for their children. The ongoing closure of in-person learning has forced many parents into having to juggle work, childcare, and assisting their kids in their online learning. It is no wonder that many parents are finding it stressful to balance all of these demands. Unfortunately for many workers, this means that their job is getting the short end of the stick.

Here is what you need to know about the study and how the continuing COVID-19 pandemic is changing the workplace both now and in the future.

Details of Study

According to a recent study conducted by the career website FlexJobs, 40% of all working parents have been forced to change the parameters of their job situation as a result of the pandemic. The study was done in partnership with SurveyMonkey between the dates of August 20 and September 7. Over 2,700 responses were tallied from parents with children ages 18 and under.

Of the 40% who claimed a change in employment status, 25% reduced their house and 15% completely quit in order to stay home and manage the online learning of their children. Of the 15% who quit their jobs, 38% do not intend to resume working again.

Women Disproportionately Affected

It is not surprising to learn that women are disproportionately affected by the need to manage virtual learning. Of the women surveyed, 63% said they were the parent who was responsible for the childcare duties when then lockdowns first hit in March. This number is much higher than the 43% of fathers who responded that they took on the bulk of the childcare responsibilities.

When it comes to online learning, 80% of working mothers responded that they were in charge of this responsibility in the family. This compares to only 31% of working fathers who took the lead on distance learning. 17% of mothers left their job entirely during the shut down, compared to just 10% of fathers.

These numbers are just another sign that working women will suffer the most during the pandemic. According to the National Women's Law Center, women only make 81 cents per dollar compared to a man's salary in the same position. Working mothers earn even less, coming in at 70 cents per dollar.

This wide gulf in salary expectations will only widen as the pandemic drags on and women are forced to choose between their careers and being at home to assist children in their online schooling. Women are also likely to miss out on promotions as they choose to reduce their work hours. While everyone is hopeful that this pandemic is a temporary situation, the effects of the school shutdown on women may be felt for years to come.

What is Ahead

The FlexJobs study also included questions intended to gauge how working parents are feeling about the future. Half of all survey respondents said that they planned to continue to work from home until school is back to an in-person format. Of that number, 7% indicated that one parent would quit their job if the virtual learning stretches through the entire school year.

58% of working parents said that they will appreciate a flexible work schedule above any other perk. Most workers are finding that their employers are being amenable to offering flexible scheduling so that they can successfully juggle job responsibilities and virtual learning direction.

The good news is that remote job openings continue to increase. As more organizations realize that workers are just as productive at home, employment experts predict that this shift to telecommuting as a viable option will continue. FlexJobs reported a 12% jump in remote job openings last August compared to July. This number is also 20% more than the online job listings in June, demonstrating that more business leaders are embracing this shift in employment offerings.

Because there is no guidebook on how to navigate working through a pandemic, it is understandably difficult for some employees to decide how to proceed. As with all major life decisions, it is important to balance your financial considerations with the health and happiness of your family.