Is your husband working from home? Research reveals men are more likely than women to work remotely - here's why

More men work remotely full time than women Almost 50 per cent of women don’t have the option to work remotely at all Men are less likely to do household chores than women when working from home 

While the concept of a ‘tradwife’ AKA married women who opt to be stay-at-home mothers, have multiple children and not let their husband do any domestic chores, while baking and cooking multiple meals from scratch in their spotlessly clean houses might sound like something from the 1950s, the trend has been steadily gaining traction on social media.

But for the majority of working mothers and wives in the U.S., it seems their employers are ensuring their place is most definitely not in the home.

That’s according to a recent McKinsey report, which found that American married women are not being afforded the same remote working opportunities as their husbands, and more men are now working remotely from home than women.

The study identified that while 38 per cent of working men had the option to work remotely full-time, only 30 per cent of women had the same option. Additionally, almost half of women don’t have the option to work remotely at all, while this only applied to 39 per cent of men.

But don’t confuse the remote husband with a ‘trad husband’ who spends their working day chipping in on household chores or doing the lion’s share of childcare duties.

A separate study from Ohio State University's Fisher College of Business found that men who work from home tend to do far less family-related tasks than their wives when they’re working from home.

Additionally, wives tend to feel more guilt about not being able to spend time with their families or perform household duties when they’re in the office.

The other main takeaway from the study? Husbands who work remotely are doing better in their careers than their wives.

The biggest barrier to career progression for remote workers, regardless of gender, is visibility, so if proximity bias is standing in your way, ensure you make yourself visible

Level the playing field

Here in the UK, the picture is slightly different in that women have more opportunities to work remotely, but unfortunately, the career progression—or lack thereof—is just as stark.

According to Statista, men who work remotely earn £865 per week on average compared to female remote workers who earn £642 per week.

So what can women who want to work remotely, without being penalised for it, do to ensure they are able to progress in their careers at the same speed as their male colleagues?

The biggest barrier to career progression for remote workers, regardless of gender, is visibility, so if proximity bias is standing in your way, ensure you make yourself visible.

One study identified that while 38 per cent of working men had the option to work remotely full-time, only 30 per cent of women had the same option

Always ensuring your camera is on during external and internal video calls is the most basic way you can do this but it also involves having one-on-one face time with your manager or instigating virtual coffee catch-ups with your co-workers, especially if they are based in the office and see each other more regularly.

Next, be responsive. While not being able to switch off is a common complaint of remote workers (various studies point to remote workers being more productive than their in-office counterparts), being responsive is essential.

This means checking your emails and Slack channels regularly, keeping your manager updated about what you’re working on or even providing a critical path timeline weekly so that everyone on your team knows how you’re progressing, and if you’re available to take on new tasks.

Finally, don’t be afraid to speak up and instigate catch-ups with your manager, if you don’t want to be overlooked when it comes to promotion.

Looking for a company with a more progressive attitude to remote work? Visit the Mail Jobs Board today