Working from home—shared care at last?

In brief

• Compares the experiences of mothers and fathers during lockdown, in terms of time spent on paid work and parenting or domestic tasks.
• Asks whether there could be a long-term shift in attitudes among parents and employers.

For most families trying to achieve a happy, healthy family life among the demands of work and other external factors is a constant balancing act. Add the experience of lockdown to the mix and we’re juggling more than ever, with childcare, remote working and the general anxieties that flow from the COVID-19 crisis.

While schools, offices and non-essential shops have re-opened, a significant number of people will continue to work from home, many for the foreseeable future. The situation may evolve in a number of ways and, for separated parents, the question arises as to whether they can, and should, be more creative with the arrangements for their children.

Many people now live in an altered reality.