Flexibility should be offered to everybody

On 12 October 2020, Prof. Belle Derks (Social, Health and Organizational Psychology) joined a round table session of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) engagement group that focuses on women in science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM). The session revolved around the effect of COVID-19 on women in these fields.

Flexibility in the workplace

One of the major challenges of these times is creating access to flexibility in the workplace. Derks explained that during this pandemic, this access has been better for fathers, while mothers have had more difficulty with the new work family imbalance, making them feel less comfortable at home and less included at work.

Flexibility equality

On a positive note, the pandemic has shown that flexibility works for everyone, which discredits the idea that flexibility is a benefit that makes it easier for women to be caregivers. Derks thinks that flexibility should be offered to both men and women in order to break the stereotype that flexibility and non-linear career paths are solutions for women only.