Flexibility Worked For theSkimm, And We’re Committed To It For The Future

Carly Zakin & Danielle Weisberg

According to Scoop’s Flex Index Report, 51% of companies offer work location flexibility. At theSkimm, we’ve found a rhythm that is working for our employees –  a hybrid model with flexible work options – and we are embracing it for our future of work. 
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The pandemic fundamentally changed the workplace. Like many business leaders, we had to learn how to operate in a virtual world – from leading a team to building cross-functional collaboration to re-imagining how we celebrate employees and milestones.
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The challenges we knew we’d be facing going fully remote left us feeling nervous and anxious. theSkimm’s employees – a predominant staff of women – are full of collaboration and creativity, and we had to think about moving forward in a way that didn’t stifle that. What we got was a new perspective on how the workplace has shifted and the empowerment of employees that comes from offering flexibility. 
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Since the launch of theSkimm over 10 years ago, we have gotten our audience of millions of women informed on the issues at hand so they can make confident decisions about their lives. Over the last three years, the struggles and obstacles women face have accelerated, forcing millions out of the workforce. 
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Through our own #ShowUsYourLeave initiative – creating transparency around paid family leave in the private sector – we saw first hand how a lack of support from employers had left people feeling. As nearly 600 companies joined us in sharing their policies, we offered a database that our audience continues to utilize to be able to see how companies support parents and caregivers.
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In addition to the lack of paid family leave, we continuously heard people speak up about needing more flexibility with work. After years of working from home, perspectives have shifted on the benefits a flexible workplace offers to all employees.
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Why Flexible Options Are Needed

The need for remote and flexible options is not a new concept. However, in the past, it’s been women who have needed or requested the option to work from home due to childcare and caregiving responsibilities that historically fall on them. Offering solutions to all employees creates a culture that takes away from the stigma women face because remote work is the only option for them.
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Offering flexibility is another benefit that companies can offer to alleviate women being forced out of the workforce – and that’s not just good for business, it’s good for the economy. By taking steps now, it could add $13 trillion to the global GDP by 2030. As women reevaluate what’s best for them, Scoop's Flex Index is a great resource to gain insights on what options are out there, and a solution to get informed on which company can support them in the best way to work for them.
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Going into 2023, we committed to a future that includes a hybrid model – consisting of our office available to employees 3 times a week (open Tuesday through Thursday to offer flexibility to those who want to be in office) – to accommodate the updated way we work and the needs of our team. 
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And while our model may not work for everyone, in order to keep women in the workplace, it’s imperative that businesses think about solutions for all employees that could bridge the gap between genders and take away the stigmas that women face. Being transparent with options for flexibility is one step forward in reversing the detrimental effects of the last few years – that are continuing to hold women back.