Karen O'Reilly: It's a snow day and mum is left holding the baby again
Studies show that women are more likely to be the parent who stays at home during emergencies like snow days.
When snow and icy conditions disrupt daily life, working mothers are particularly affected, facing unique challenges in balancing their professional and family responsibilities.
The impact of severe weather on mothers in the workplace highlights the need for more supportive and flexible working conditions.
Employflex, a flexible recruitment agency specialising in diversity hire and flexible work, conducted a quick straw poll on Monday, January 6, a snow day for many around the country.
With more than 250 respondents, 86% said mum is staying at home, 11% had childminders or grandparents to lean on, and only 3% of dads had to miss work. Once again, mum was left holding the baby.
Studies from the Economic and Social Research Institute found women are more likely to take on the primary caregiving role and this traditional expectation continues to influence who stays at home during emergencies like snow days.
The same study highlighted that women take on 76% of the domestic work in the home.
Women in Ireland are more likely to work in part time or flexible roles (CSO) which often places them in the position to take time off during school closures or bad weather.
Covid highlighted the uneven distribution of childcare responsibilities in Ireland and a survey from NUI Galway and the Western Development Commission (2020) found that women were more likely to manage homeschooling and childcare during lockdowns, a trend that extends to other disruptions like snow days.
Even though parents have, by law in the Parental Leave Act 1998, the right to take unpaid leave for childcare, women are more likely to avail of this.
But it’s not just snow days though, it’s every time Johnny needs to go to the dentist or the baby has a doctor’s appointment.
It’s half days for school service days and parent teacher meetings and holy days. It’s long summer holidays, Easter, and midterms. It’s organising Christmas, birthdays, playdates, and outings.
The impact on a woman’s career is well documented and the motherhood penalty accounts for over 80% of the gender pay gap.
The increased absenteeism can negatively affect a mother’s career progression. With more visibility in the workplace, the privileged dad on the other hand can benefit from a fatherhood bonus and proximity bias in his favour.
The additional emotional and mental load can also lead to burnout and exhaustion as mums juggle with their ‘second shift’ when they arrive home to the management of the household.
Encouraging both parents to share childcare responsibilities equally through supportive workplace policies and cultural change is essential.
This includes offering flexible working arrangements to all employees and promoting the uptake of paternity leave to challenge traditional norms.
There is no official adverse weather policy legally in Ireland so it’s up to the individual companies or organisations to show up on these days.
Flexibility is a top priority when candidates are job hunting with our surveys showing that more than 77% rate flexibility even higher than salary when looking for a new role; a win-win for all.
Flexibility can mean so many different things, like flexi hours, hybrid work, work from home on snow days, part-time work, job share, compressed hours, term time, and myriad other flexi-options.
In addition, employers should implement family-friendly policies, provide training to managers and staff on unconscious bias and promote a workplace culture that values the contributions of working mothers, as well as offer resources and support for mental health to help mothers manage stress and maintain well-being.
By understanding and addressing these challenges, employers can create a more inclusive and supportive workplace for mothers, helping them thrive professionally.
- Karen O’Reilly is the founder of Employmum and Employflex, a recruitment agency specialising in diversity hiring and training
