Work Or Kids? NJ Parents Find Tough Choices Amid COVID Pandemic

NEWARK, NJ — Are you a New Jersey parent pulling out your hair trying to balance your kids and your job amid the coronavirus pandemic? You’re not alone, a recent report says.

Earlier this week, nonprofit advocacy group New Jersey Policy Perspective (NJPP) released a study that took a look at how the Garden State’s working parents are doing amid the pandemic.

It wasn’t good news, researchers said.

The report, "Parents are Essential Too: Supporting Working Families During the Pandemic," found that the current crisis has "intensified barriers to economic security and childcare among families with children."

How bad is it? According to the study:

"Households with children are twice as likely to report that it was very difficult to cover usual expenses as households without children, according to data collected by the U.S. Census Bureau’s Household Pulse Survey in November 2020. In addition, households with children are 23 percent more likely to report experiencing loss of income since the onset of the pandemic than families without children."

“During a public health emergency that has drastically disrupted schools, childcare, and work, it is essential that parents have the support, flexibility, and resources they need to balance their jobs and caregiving duties,” said Vineeta Kapahi, NJPP policy analyst and author of the report.

The report was released in a virtual press conference with parents from across the state who have struggled to deal with unpredictable and unstable childcare and schooling under COVID-19.

"The school I taught at opened for in-person schooling, while my children's schools remained closed,” said Susan Coll-Guedes, a parent of three from Galloway.

“My children are autistic and have special needs,” Coll-Guedes said. “I couldn’t afford to pay for the amount of help needed to care for them, so I had no choice but to resign from my position to remain at home.”

“I hope that our lawmakers can take action to address the dilemma working parents are facing because I want to be a teacher, but I have to make my essential job as a mom and caregiver a priority,” Coll-Guedes said.

"Unemployment will run out and I do not want to worry about what happens next," said Kimberly Khalil, member of Melinated Moms. "I feel like I should not have to choose between my work and my son. This is something many new parents feel but with the pandemic, we are really given no choice at all."

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The report noted that the impact of COVID-19 among families in New Jersey may further entrench inequities that existed before the pandemic.

According to the NJPP, low-income, Latinx and Black workers are least likely to be able to telework. Meanwhile, adults in households with the highest incomes are both most likely to be able to work from home and to afford childcare.

• See related article: NJ Needs To Step Up For Bus Riders In COVID Pandemic, Report Says
• See related article: Coronavirus Is Exposing Racial Gaps In NJ, Advocates Say

"This new and shifting environment for New Jersey workers can be most challenging for lower-wage workers and people of color who had less protections, but more hurdles, than higher wage employees even before the pandemic," said Renee Koubiadis, executive director of the Anti-Poverty Network of New Jersey.

The report highlighted the strengths and shortcomings of policies to support working parents, noting that many employees still lack workplace flexibility, paid leave and job protections.

Federal COVID-19 emergency childcare leave, for example, excludes at least half of New Jersey’s private sector workers; large firms with over 500 employees are exempt, and employers may exclude health care providers from federal paid leave protections, the NJPP stated.

“Healthcare workers are applauded for being heroes in the pandemic and they are, but they are also being denied resources desperately needed to care for their families,” said Alexis Rean-Walker, secretary-treasurer of the Health Professionals and Allied Employees.

“Most of the time it is women, Blacks, Latinos and immigrants that are forced to make these decisions and face disparities time and time again,” Rean-Walker said. “Our members need emergency paid-time-off not just to quarantine when we get exposed, but to also care for our children in our roles as parents. We need a caring economy."

An already-tough situation is about to get worse if two key provisions in the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (FFCRA) that enable workers to take partially paid leave due to COVID-19 related closures expire at the end of this month.

Without these programs extending, states need to immediately step up to the plate for working parents, advocates said.

"My three kids' school did not open and has been operating remotely but, luckily, I didn’t have to quit my job and I was able to take federal paid leave under the FFCRA,” said Jo'Nia Miller, a mother of three from Logan Township.

“Unfortunately, that program is going to expire at the end of the year and I have run out of options,” Miller said. “I ask, what are working parents supposed to do? I worked hard for what I have — my job, our house — and I should not have to lose them because I have to care for my kids at home during this crisis.”

The report coincides with the release of policy recommendations from the NJ Time to Care Coalition for state lawmakers to increase workplace flexibility, expand access to paid leave and strengthen worker protections.

"COVID has turned everyone's lives upside down, and especially working parents who are struggling to maintain their jobs and care for their children at home because COVID has closed their schools or places of care," said Yarrow Willman-Cole of NJ Citizen Action, who is also convener of the NJ Time to Care Coalition.

“The crisis is forcing many parents, mostly moms, to cut their hours or quit their jobs,” Willman-Cole said.

“Paid leave means working parents can provide for their family and manage their caregiving demands, and it keeps them attached to the workforce, instead of being added to the ranks of unemployed,” Willman-Cole said. “We need to expand our paid leave programs here in New Jersey as well as require employers provide more work flexibility, and strengthen workers' job protections."

• Read the full report here.
• Watch a recording of the report release here.
• Click here for information on paid leave options during COVID-19.

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