‘Childcare vs work conflict can cause lower productivity’

Being conflicted about childcare and work can affect productivity levels, according to new research by Durham University Business School.

The research, led by Dr Yingli Deng, Assistant Professor at Durham University Business School, studied over 200 working parents to determine their productivity levels, their emotional stability and amount of shame they felt whilst home working.

It found that parents who feel shame about childcare responsibilities eating into their work time and who are less emotionally stable are less productive when they are working than those who do not feel ashamed.

The researchers say the problem is when work and childcare are in competition and parents find it hard to get a balance. This has been particularly challenging during the pandemic when people have been working remotely with children present and the lines between work and childcare have been more blurred.

Dr Deng says employers should be more aware of these issues, train managers to recognise employees’ shame and help them to identify ways to cope and offer more flexibility during working hours.

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