A new Pew Research Center survey confirms what so many of us already feel in our bones: 62% of full-time working moms say balancing work and family is difficult, and two-thirds report feeling like they can't give 100% at either. But I was surprised to read that working from home does not seem to improve the struggle for most, which tells us the problem isn't just about where we work—it's about how our workplaces are structured and whether they account for the realities of caregiving. Flexibility alone is not the fix.

I am happy to be at a firm that is building a culture that treats parenting as compatible with professional excellence. For those of you navigating this tension every day: what's one thing your workplace has done (or could do) that would actually make a difference?  

The steps I've seen actually move the needle are: (1) strong reduced time policies that do not disproportionately penalize people for working less than 100% FTE; (2) offering resources and benefits to make the logistics of caregiving easier; and (3) building a culture that allows boundary setting. Firms can gain a competitive advantage in recruiting by implementing these structural features.