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The Other Work Remote Workers Get Done

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Summary

This article discusses the importance and value of remote work for caregivers, who are often overlooked in economic indicators, and how this type of work allows them to manage a workload that is too big. It examines the debate about the productivity of remote work and how the lack of comprehensive data on caregiving can lead to policy decisions that do not take into account the unpaid and invaluable work that caregivers do. The article concludes with a discussion of how policies that support caregiving and the flexible nature of remote work can benefit the economy and help people care for their families.

Q&As

What is the issue with the traditional conception of productivity not accounting for caregiving?
The traditional conception of productivity does not account for the unpaid work that goes into raising a productive laborer, which is absent from economic indicators.

How has remote work allowed caregivers to remain employed?
Remote work has allowed caregivers to remain employed by providing them with the flexibility to manage their workload and caregiving responsibilities.

What policies could ensure that Americans can care for the people in their lives?
Policies such as paid family and medical leave, paid sick leave, child allowances or cash support for other unpaid caregivers, and predictable and flexible scheduling practices could ensure that Americans can care for the people in their lives.

How have economic indicators distorted the picture of the economy?
The omission of so much domestic work from economic indicators makes policies that support caregiving look like bad investments.

What have experts found regarding the risk of the increased child care brought on by school closures?
Experts initially assumed that the increased child care brought on by school closures would disproportionately oust mothers from the labor market, but it became clear that this risk had been overstated.

AI Comments

👍 This article sheds light on the importance of the unpaid work that caregivers provide for America's young, sick, elderly, and disabled and how telecommuting can help them manage their workload.

👎 This article overlooks the fact that remote work can be hampering productivity and fails to address how it can negatively affect the economy.

AI Discussion

Me: It's about the importance of remote work for people who are also caregivers. It talks about how remote work is allowing people to manage both their work and their caregiving responsibilities better. It also mentions how the traditional conception of productivity doesn't account for the unpaid work that goes into caring for people.

Friend: That's really interesting. It definitely highlights how remote work can be beneficial for those who are also caregivers. It seems like remote work can really help people who are trying to balance work and caregiving responsibilities, which often get overlooked.

Me: Yes, I agree. The article also points out how the lack of data on this kind of work has impacted policy making. It shows how policies that support caregiving can often appear to be bad investments because of the way they are measured in the economy. This creates a distorted picture of the economic value of caregiving work.

Action items

Research and learn more about the policies that support caregiving, such as paid family and medical leave, paid sick leave, child allowances or cash support for other unpaid caregivers, and predictable and flexible scheduling practices.
Reach out to employers and advocate for remote work policies that support caregivers.
Consider ways to measure the economic value of caregiving, such as creating a dashboard to quantify the care economy.

Technical terms

Telecommuting: Working from a remote location, usually from home, using technology such as video conferencing, email, and other online tools.
Big Tech: A term used to describe the large technology companies such as Apple, Microsoft, Google, and Amazon.
Autistic: A developmental disorder that affects communication and behavior.
Hybrid work: A combination of remote and in-person work.
GDP: Gross Domestic Product, a measure of the total value of goods and services produced in a country.
She-cession: A term used to describe the disproportionate economic impact of the pandemic on women.
Feminist economists: Economists who focus on the economic impact of gender inequality.
Human capital: The knowledge, skills, and abilities of a person that can be used to produce economic value.
Paid parental leave: A policy that provides paid time off for parents to care for a newborn or newly adopted child.