Many working mothers—now balancing home school, snack breaks, and play time—carry a heavier child care burden than fathers during the coronavirus pandemic, leaving them increasingly vulnerable to layoffs and terminations that would be difficult to challenge in court.
New research suggests that the pandemic has worsened gender dynamics between working parents. Working moms’ hours fell four to five times as much as fathers’ in March and April, increasing the gender gap in work hours by 20% to 50%, according to a recent study from Washington University in St. Louis.
“We know working mothers are reducing their work hours. It will ...