Rising above COVID-19 challenges: the experience of working mothers in India during COVID-19 pandemic

The COVID-19 pandemic lockdown period has been challenging for most working mothers, leading them to question their effectiveness as mothers and working professionals. This study explores the challenges that working mothers in India face while working remotely during COVID-19 lockdown. Moreover, it examines how challenges related to COVID-19 shape their self-efficacy in managing dual roles. Drawing insights from the Self-Determination Theory (SDT), this study uses the semi-structured interview method to understand the challenges associated with an unprecedented and uncertain crisis like COVID-19. After systematically analysing interviews with 18 working mothers about managing dual roles, this study presents a theoretical model that lays out the mechanism behind the motivation and strategies that working mothers adopt to cope with COVID-19 challenges. Specifically, this research provides a unique insight into not only the challenges confronted by the working mothers but also how they renegotiating or redesigning aspects of their work and home environments so they can rebound from such a challenging situation. The findings of the research still reinforce the idea that the lion’s share of the responsibility still lies with employers which can re-empower their employees by giving them more control to decide how, when and where they work, that is, allowing more time and flexibility in order to attract and retain talents in the ‘new normal’ world of work.