A number of years in the past, going for a gathering at midday meant that one must wake sooner than regular, end further chores round the home, prep for meal time after which commute for nearly half a day simply to attend an hour-long assembly. This was the life of each working woman-professional within the yesteryears. However, with the appearance of expertise and platforms like Zoom, life has drastically modified for the higher for ladies all around the world. Women work remotely, attend conferences however geo-locations and handle the family all in a day with an ease they have been by no means afforded earlier than. More so, this has additionally helped them “compete” with their maverick male colleagues who’ve had it simpler as they needed to put on only one hat (of working within the workplace), whereas the lady had no selection however to put on two hats – the house and workplace.

Yamini Bhatt, a advertising government within the trend business, who works from residence, says, “A lot changed after COVID. It was only during the second half of the lockdown that companies started to face up to the fact that profits were being affected and therefore work needed to go on somehow. And in come platforms like Zoom that made working remotely possible.”

When requested how expertise has impacted her private life, Bhatt says, “Today, I spend more time at home and take care of my children and get work done at the same time. Earlier, if we had a meeting in South Mumbai, I would have to wake up at the crack of dawn and get everything organized before I would leave, because invariably, on days that we would have client meetings, I would return later than normal working hours. When I got home tired and exhausted from the work day plus the travel, I would have a pile of things waiting to get done.”

Rahat Sanghvi, who works as a trauma therapist in a personal observe says that she was in a position to transfer out of her household residence and stay by herself because of not having to commute to work. Had this been potential with out expertise? No manner. Sanghvi says, “I was able to move out and live by myself because of the shift in the online work scenario. And the fact that I don’t spend my time commuting has definitely helped me manage the home front better.”

When requested about gender equality and all of the discuss going about globally on how AI and expertise has put ladies on par with males on the work place, Sangvhi candidly says, “I think it just creates an illusion of equality. In reality, the pressures of the household don’t really go away even if technology helps us free up time.”

Rajshri Gaur, who’s the Senior General Manager (Marketing) in Linux Pharmaceuticals makes a really fascinating remark. While she agrees that expertise has helped ladies keep at residence and handle the house and work entrance higher, it has additionally left them working longer hours as now conferences are scheduled at an hour’s discover and at any level of the day.

In favor of expertise and the conveniences it has caused, she says, “As an individual, it has definitely helped me manage my work and home life better. I make the technology work for me and at my time. Earlier, I had to go to meetings physically and had to travel long hours and to various locations, which was not always easy. These meetings required that I travel to other cities. Now, the same meetings can be conducted from my living room.”

With all the great issues, generally comes the unhealthy. Gaur believes that for those who fail to “schedule your meeting intelligently” then these identical conferences will trickle in to your private time as platforms like Zoom take little or no effort relating to “starting meetings”.

Citing the times passed by when expertise was not on the forefront, Gaur recollects, “Earlier we used to plan the conferences. People not solely exchanged concepts but in addition vitality. Zoom conferences can generally be so random as a result of they’re typically deliberate with none correct agenda.”

At the end of the day, the transformative impact of technology has ushered in a new era for women professionals globally. The arduous days of commutes and the responsibility of managing the home and office front simultaneously with little time on hand are fading away into the past. As shared by working women like Yamini Bhatt, Rahat Sanghvi, and Rajshri Gaur, remote work not has not only enhanced work-life balance but has also empowered women to navigate their personal and work lives with flexibility. But, with the conveniences lie challenges such as longer working hours and the need for strategic scheduling. Yet, the consensus remains—technology has undeniably reshaped the landscape for women in the work sphere.

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Published on: Sunday, October 22, 2023, 07:00 AM IST