Beyond the Home Office: Thriving and Striving - A Married Woman's Remote Work Journey

Abstract

This paper explores the experiences of married women who work remotely while managing a household and family. As remote work becomes more common, understanding the unique work-life balance challenges faced by this population is increasingly important. Through in-depth interviews with 15 married remote working mothers, key themes related to benefits and challenges were identified. While remote work afforded flexibility and time savings, women faced hurdles in establishing boundaries, managing distractions, dealing with household demands, finding support networks, and overcoming feelings of isolation. This paper discusses essential strategies women employed in response, like setting strict schedules, creating separate home office spaces, leveraging local resources, and establishing connections with other remote workers. The findings provide guidance for organizations seeking to support the success of remote employees with significant family responsibilities.