The COVID-19 pandemic brought with it a major transformation in how people do office work. During the lockdowns, companies all over the world were forced to adopt the work-from-home (WFH) setup. What started as a temporary solution soon proved to be the way forward for many organizations, as it was found to be practical and effective.
Even after the pandemic waned, several companies, especially knowledge-based organizations, continued offering remote or hybrid work options because of their flexibility and the absence of long daily commutes. However, for many working women, this WFH arrangement has also meant balancing office work with household duties.
To gain a better understanding of how women manage this new work setup, this interview was conducted with a single mother working from home while also managing family responsibilities.
Q1. Please give us an introduction about yourself and your work.
Answer: I come from a middle-class family and currently work as a Project Manager in the Information Technology-Enabled Services (ITES) sector. I am also a single mother raising my only daughter independently, and it requires a lot of effort, as competition in academics is huge these days. My role involves managing projects and, as you know the drill, coordinating with team members, conducting meetings, and ensuring that deadlines are met. The usual things.
Q2. What is a typical working day like while working from home?
Answer: When it comes to workload, it is no different from the traditional office setup. A normal day is quite hectic. It involves, as I said earlier, attending online meetings, answering emails, handling administrative responsibilities, managing backlogs, and guiding junior employees. Since our company is involved in knowledge services and production, there are always multiple tasks happening simultaneously. But it also involves balancing work with the tasks that arise at home. Since you are at home, you are also expected to take up such responsibilities. Some of them are unexpected.
Q3. What is the most difficult aspect of working from home compared to regular office work?
Answer: Maintaining a work-life balance is the biggest challenge. Family members, both young and old, may suddenly require medical attention, and sometimes I also have health issues of my own, mainly due to spending long, exhausting hours in front of the computer. Technical problems can happen when you least expect them. But the tricky part is that, unlike office work, immediate technical support is not always available at home. You are expected to carry your laptop all the way to the workplace to get things sorted out.
Q4. How do you manage to complete office deadlines and household tasks simultaneously?
Answer: Initially, I tried to do everything myself, which became overwhelming as time passed. So, I learned the importance of delegating work and seeking support from family members. Domestic help became necessary. I also use online shopping and home delivery services whenever required to save time.
Q5. How does working from home save time?
Answer: Yes, definitely. By working from home, I save commuting time and reduce the stress and tiredness that usually come with daily travel and traffic. I am also able to avoid the Chennai heat and pollution safely.
Q6. How important is family support for you in maintaining this balance?
Answer: Definitely. Family support is very, very important. Life is full of ups and downs, but when you have people around you, you benefit from their emotional and practical support. This is indeed a huge blessing.
Q7. What qualities are required for WFH mothers like you to successfully manage both office work and housework?
Answer: Patience, time management, tolerance, and the ability to handle stress are all equally essential qualities. Staying positive and calm during difficult situations and while meeting constant deadlines also helps.
Q8. What message would you like to share with other women like you who are working from home?
Answer: Life presents lots of challenges which we should face with courage and patience. It is important to delegate responsibilities whenever possible and accept that we are not Superman (or Superwoman, in my case) and cannot do everything. Maintaining healthy relationships at home is important as well. Having harmony at home helps create a peaceful environment for both work and family life. Above all, good health is the most important thing; it becomes difficult to enjoy any other success in life without good health.
Conclusion
This interview shows us how work-from-home (WFH), which gained popularity during the COVID-19 pandemic, has brought a huge transformation in the lives of officegoers, especially women who also handle household responsibilities. While WFH offers much-needed flexibility and eliminates commuting time, it also brings the challenge of balancing office responsibilities with household duties within the same environment.
The interviewee’s replies show that strong family support, effective time management, discipline, and adaptability are important for successfully managing these multitasking roles. She is just one among numerous working women around the globe who contribute significantly to both their careers and their households every day.
As WFH and hybrid work models have become increasingly popular and are here to stay, it is important to recognize the contributions of working women and appreciate the additional responsibilities they undertake. Their ability to multitask and manage multiple roles simultaneously is proof not only of their commitment to family and spirit of sacrifice but also of their strong work ethic and superior organizational skills.
(Interviewee: Name withheld on request)
(Representative Photo by Kamaji Oginomage via Pexels)
