Post-pandemic remote work and the Italian care model: constraint or opportunity?

Purpose: Building on Mary Daly’s typology of care policies, this article explores whether and to what extent remote work in post-pandemic times is still considered a tool to cope with the limits of care measures, despite the exit from the emergency phase. We argue that in countries characterised by a familialistic care regime, such as Italy, there is a risk that the adoption of remote work may be distorted by limited conciliation tools and care provisions and fosters gender inequalities. Design/methodology/approach: The article is based on a case study on Milan, which is an interesting context for multiple reasons. Italy is characterised by limited conciliation tools, weak childcare provisions and significant gender inequalities in the labour market, but in Milan female employment is well above the national average and remote work is more widespread. The research is qualitatively driven, as it is built upon interviews with remote workers, HR managers and union officials. These data are completed with a survey that involved 285 remote workers. Findings: Remote work continues to be used by parents as a substitute tool to compensate for underdeveloped public care services and employment-related provisions. Moreover, this practice affects gender inequalities, as women are more inclined to perform their tasks remotely overtime and in spaces not dedicated to work. Originality/value: While several studies have stressed the impact of remote work on work-life balance and the unequal gender distribution of care work during the pandemic, there is little knowledge about what is happening in the post-pandemic period.