What Employers Can – and Can’t – Fix for Working Parents

This insightful analysis from TIME featuring Nobel laureate Claudia Goldin explores how the workplace must evolve to support the “time tax” inherent in modern parenting. By reimagining how we structure our teams, we can create a more equitable environment where professional success and personal devotion are no longer at odds.

Drawing on Goldin’s research, the article offers a strategic roadmap for creating a more sustainable workplace:

• Move Beyond “Greedy Work”: Employers should aim to reduce roles that demand unpredictable, “round-the-clock” availability, which often penalizes those with caregiving duties.
• Create “Replaceable” Teams: Goldin suggests that the best way to support parents is to ensure team members can act as substitutes for one another, allowing work to continue seamlessly when a family emergency arises.
• Encourage “Couple Equity”: True progress occurs when organizational culture encourages all parents—regardless of gender—to utilize flexible policies, preventing the “mommy track” and fostering balance at home.