I want to extend my gratitude to Noelle Newbold for sharing her insights on the challenges women face in today’s workplace, especially with Amazon’s RTO policy. As someone who became a mother before the COVID era, I can deeply relate. I’m fortunate to have a husband who is an equal partner in parenting, but even then, I found myself having to hide the fact that I was a mother while working in highly competitive environments. The moment people knew I had a child, I started experiencing the subtle—and sometimes not so subtle—penalties of motherhood, regardless of age or gender. It's unfortunate that many still don’t understand what it's like to be a mother striving to build a career. It wasn’t until I joined a remote agency that I was able to be more present at home, but I had to put my leadership journey on hold. That pause came at a cost, and it wasn’t until I worked for a company with strong female leadership that embraced flexibility that I found balance again. This environment allowed me to grow as a leader while being more involved with my child’s life, and for the first time, I felt that both parts of my identity—professional and personal—were being supported. The pandemic changed everything for my family. My husband and I both worked hybrid schedules, and it gave us more time together with our child. This experience helped us build a stronger family connection, and I truly believe this kind of balance isn’t just good for families—it’s good for society as a whole. It allows women to lead and thrive in their careers while men gain a deeper understanding of the challenges their partners face. I know I’m privileged to have had this experience, but we must recognize that many women don’t have the same opportunities. If we continue to operate with outdated expectations, we risk holding back not just individual women, but entire generations of leaders. Flexibility in the workplace—through hybrid and remote work—empowers mothers to pursue their careers, strengthens families, and leads to a more equitable society for everyone.
"Rigid RTO mandates won’t just hurt working moms," writes BASIC/DEPT®'s Noelle Newbold. "Those who are disabled, caregivers, neurodivergent and immunocompromised are likely also affected by Amazon’s decision and its implications."
Abdul Saboor
2mo
Powerful insights, Noelle! Misook Ji
Director of Performance Marketing & SEO / SEM Consultant
3moIt’s truly shameful that this country doesn’t prioritize family-life balance. My mom and grandmothers were stay at home parents but it’s nearly impossible for many people to do that these days. RTO is certainly not helping matters.