It seems like every week brings another return to office (RTO) mandate across my LinkedIn feed. Every time, I’m still surprised.
I’ve been a remote worker since 2018. In my previous position at a local tech company, we had an open office policy: come in when you wanted, or never at all. This approach fit my working style perfectly–when I had more time and availability, I could come into the office to see teammates and get in some face-to-face conversations. When I had to be heads down, I could choose to stay at home.
Yes, you read that right. When I wanted to be most productive, I stayed home. Now, that’s not what this article is about, but it’s something to keep in mind to help paint the picture. 
Every time one of these RTO mandates rolls across my computer, my heart hurts for parents. As the mother of two young children, I could not imagine the stress, anxiety, and pressure I’d feel if an RTO mandate came in through my email inbox. My current company, Goldcast, has no physical office, so I luckily have no fears of this happening to me. Yet so many parents do.
I could go on and on about the benefits of a flexible, hybrid, and/or remote-first policy. But for this blog, I’ll focus on why it’s a great benefit to offer parents when possible. Here are just a few ways remote work policies help parents succeed in the workplace and at home.
Lessen Morning Stress
Trying to get a three-year-old ready in the morning can be a straight-up nightmare. If he’s in a bad mood, all bets are off. There might be yelling, tears, tantrums—you name it. I can’t imagine how much more stressful mornings would be if I absolutely had to be at an office at 8 or 9 a.m. Not to mention the additional math you have to do to factor in not only threenager meltdowns but traffic and construction too.
Reduce Sickness in Office
Kids get sick. A lot. Especially if they are in daycare. My husband and I seem to always be rotating through some type of illness one of the kiddos brought home. If I absolutely had to work in an office, I’d be bringing all those germs into those walls all the time. There’s no organization out there with enough sick days to prevent that from happening.
Reserve Sick Days for Truly Sick Days
Speaking of sickness, as a reminder, kids get sick a lot. Most parents can’t go more than a few weeks without getting the dreaded call from daycare: Hi! Please come pick your child up. They have a fever. Or they threw up. Or they have diarrhea. The list goes on and on.
When provided the flexibility to work from home, parents no longer have to burn through their sick days or personal days when their children get sick. They can then reserve those days when they themselves are actually too sick to work, which makes the most sense for their physical and mental health.
Relieve Caregiver Gaps
Many daycares, my own included, shut down for a day or two to take care of things like teacher planning, staff retreats, deep-cleaning, or illness. It’s not easy to find childcare for the expected closings, and many working parents are left scrambling if it was an unexpected shutdown.
Finding a childcare alternative is incredibly hard to source at times like these, especially if you lack family within a relatively close driving distance. Remote work policies help working parents relieve these caregiver gaps by allowing them to stay home when these instances arise. Yep, you can actually get work done while your kids are at home! It’s not sustainable long-term, but when you’re in a pinch, you do what you’ve got to do.
Boost Incomes
Childcare is incredibly expensive. When parents are not offered the flexibility to work from home, those childcare costs go up exponentially. School-aged children’s schedules do not align with the typical 9-5 work hours, so consider how much more money must be put into after school care. It adds up quickly.
Provide More Bonding Time
Remember the morning scenario we started out with? Even on the days with the absolute worst meltdowns, I’m grateful that I’m spending that time with my family instead of stuck commuting in a car. There are so few hours to enjoy with your children after work, especially if they’re young–I see my eight-month-old less than two hours per night on average. Eliminating a commute gives me precious time back in my day to bond more with my kids.
I could go on and on, but I think I’ll leave it at that. If your organization’s leadership is considering enforcing an RTO, I would highly encourage you to present my perspective to them. Considering the U.S. Surgeon General has issued an advisory on the mental health and well-being of parents, we really don’t need the additional stress.
HAMILTON CONNECTION
Hamilton County Leadership Academy (HCLA) and Invest Hamilton County have launched a community ambassador program. The partnership, called HAMILTON CONNECTION will highlight the personal stories of HCLA alumni and allow those Connectors to help personalize the things that make Hamilton County a great place to live, work, learn, and thrive. Meet the Hamilton Connectors HERE.
