At the end of May, UnWork had the privilege of attending a session at Clerkenwell Design Week where Jeremy Myerson, Director of WORKTECH Academy and UnWork Advisory Board Member, spoke on a panel discussing if workplaces can “bring us together”. Jeremy contributed on the subject of the evolving role of design in fostering cohesion within post-pandemic work environments, particularly as many employees have a strong preference for remote work.

During the panel, an interesting question emerged about the impact of remote working on women in the workplace. This question sparked diverse viewpoints and insights from the participants, prompting us to explore deeper into this crucial topic in this blog.

The Evolution of Remote Working

Remote working, once a niche practice, has rapidly become mainstream in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic. As organisations adapted to lockdowns and social distancing measures, remote work emerged as a viable solution to sustain business operations while ensuring employee safety. This shift has been profound, transforming traditional workplace dynamics.

As a result, companies have had to rethink how they operate, embracing technology to facilitate virtual collaboration and communication. Remote work has not only provided flexibility for employees but also reshaped organisational structures and cultures, emphasising results-driven approaches over conventional office-based metrics.

Many of us now enjoy the many benefits remote work has to offer, from reduced commuting costs to the luxury of never missing a delivery again. However, despite the many conveniences, there are also significant challenges, particularly for females and we need to ask the question: what is the true impact of remote working on women?

Challenges of Remote Working for Women

Work from Home, often shortened to ‘WFH’ has at times been framed as a means of supporting women in the workplace. This viewpoint often cites remote working’s potential to help women better manage the demands of their jobs with the demands of their families. Despite its benefits, remote working poses unique challenges for women, amplified by the pandemic’s impact on gender disparities. Women were disproportionately affected by job losses, especially in sectors like hospitality and retail, where they make up a significant portion of the workforce (Financial Times, 2024). According to the National Women’s Law Centre Report, women have lost 5.4 million jobs since the start of the pandemic, nearly 1 million more than men.

This economic strain not only threatened women’s financial security but also underscored systemic inequalities in job security and career advancement opportunities. It highlighted longstanding issues such as pay disparity and inadequate workplace support systems for women, exacerbating challenges in these sectors.

The persistence of gender bias and deep-rooted attitudes has long hindered women’s advancement in the workplace, as highlighted by McKinsey’s 2022 Women in the Workplace report, which reveals disparities in promotion rates. For every 100 men promoted from entry-level to managerial positions, only 87 women achieve the same recognition, a figure that drops even further to 82 for women of colour. These statistics highlight the systemic barriers women face, worsened by traditional office environments loaded with gendered expectations, unconscious biases in decision-making, and limited networking and mentorship opportunities.

One of the panellists highlighted the advantages of remote working for childcare, emphasising the flexibility it offers for tasks such as school pick-ups and doctors’ appointments. However, for many women, remote work has intensified and blurred the boundaries of unpaid caregiving responsibilities, as noted in a 2024 Harvard Business Review report. This has hindered their ability to fully engage in professional responsibilities and worsened the ongoing challenge of balancing work and caregiving duties. Consequently, female employees have experienced increased stress and reduced productivity. The report underscores how remote work dynamics have disproportionately impacted women, who typically bear primary responsibility for household and childcare tasks, further hindering their career advancement and full participation in professional environments.

Benefits of Remote Work for Women

Despite these challenges, remote work can offer substantial benefits for women. It provides greater flexibility, enabling better work-life balance and increased job satisfaction.

There is a transformative opportunity to create a more inclusive and equal work culture. By shifting the focus from superficial factors like appearance to evaluating employees based on their work, skills, and contributions, remote work levels the playing field. As we navigate beyond the pandemic’s economic and social disruptions, embracing remote work offers a path toward ensuring that all women can thrive and belong in the evolving workplace landscape.

As previously mentioned, balancing career aspirations with household and caregiving responsibilities has long posed a challenge for women, combined with traditional office settings that demand constant availability and lengthy commutes.

Despite these systemic hurdles, a significant number of women have cited a lack of work-life balance as a primary reason for leaving previous jobs, highlighting the enduring struggle to balance professional ambitions with personal well-being.

In contrast, remote work has emerged as a transformative solution, offering women autonomy over their schedules and the flexibility to manage both work and home responsibilities effectively. This shift has been particularly empowering in industries like technology, where a substantial majority of women speak to the crucial role of remote work in job retention and career advancement.

By focusing on outcomes rather than physical presence, remote work not only levels the playing field but also fosters a more equitable and supportive environment, paving the way for women to thrive in leadership roles and contribute meaningfully to their professions.

Why Belonging Matters to Women in Remote Work

As remote work gains popularity amongst women, creating a sense of belonging remains crucial. It’s essential to curate a supportive and inclusive environment where women’s contributions are valued and where they can bring their authentic selves to work without suppression based on gender, race, or caregiving roles. Belongingness isn’t just theoretical, it directly addresses feelings of isolation and loneliness, which can affect productivity and engagement.