Family-friendly policies and remote work: Revisiting the work-care conflict in a post Covid labour market

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has had a profound impact on the structure of the labour market, a shift which has had gendered consequences. In particular, women have been disadvantaged by the increased burden of care. The aim of this article is to assess family-friendly policies in Ireland regarding the work-care conflict and the rise of remote working arrangements. To achieve this objective, a feminist policy analysis methodology will be used. The research suggests that Ireland, as a liberal welfare state, must invest further in family-friendly policies, primarily regarding increased access to childcare and family leave. Using the impacts of COVID-19 as a learning experience, this article highlights the areas in which Irish policies should be improved in order to account for the difficulty of balancing care and work; it focuses in particular on the long-term sustainability of remote work.