Being a working mom is not easy. From meeting deadlines to looking after the baby - most working mothers barely get time to pamper themselves. There are times when every woman feels like giving up. A supportive environment can make a huge difference in the mental and physical health of career-oriented women who are also mothers. Here is all about working mom support.
So, what types of support do working moms need the most? Let's discuss how families and employees can support mothers who are struggling to create a work-life balance.
Working Mom Support in the Workplace
1. Giving equal opportunities
Career advancement for mothers can be a challenge. That's because employees don't give them equal opportunities assuming that they won't be able to give their 100%. Many women have complained that people who don't have kids have a higher chance of getting promotions. Moms returning to work after taking a break also get paid less and so, competitive pay is another thing that should be provided by employers.
Any type of workplace discrimination that working moms face is wrong and it's high time that companies realize that. Workplace equality is every woman's right. If a person is skilled and dedicated to their work, motherhood should not stand in their way of career growth.
2. Paid maternity leave
For working moms' support, companies should introduce favorable maternal and parental leave policies. Maternity leave prevents a woman from getting fired when she announces that she is pregnant. Moreover, a newborn baby needs to spend all its time with the mother to develop a strong bond. If a woman loses her job during this tough time, it will affect her health, and she will also not have financial stability.
3. Flexible Work Arrangements
When the baby is small, a working mom prefers to have flexibility so that she can balance her home and her office. If the company allows work from home, she can save a lot more time than moms who work outside the home.
4. Daycare
Many offices have daycare facilities to support working moms and there's nothing that they love more. This way, they can keep an eye on their baby even when they're at work. For small babies, a lactating room can also be there so that the mother can feed her baby in privacy.
Working Moms Support at Home
1. Assistance with household chores
Managing a house is a full-time job. Buying groceries, doing the dishes, doing laundry, preparing meals - and the work is unending. Thinking of managing the house singlehandedly when someone has a job, and a baby is madness.
Time management for working moms has to be prioritized. To avoid mom burnout, hiring domestic help is a must if both are working parents. Women should also not hesitate to ask for help from their partner as doing household chores is not solely the woman's responsibility.
2. Understanding & empathy
Without a solid support system, many working women end up sacrificing their careers. There are also many working moms who don't give up on their dreams. They admit that it is possible only because they are surrounded by supportive partners and good friends. That's the power of unconditional acceptance and any woman working outside of the home or working from home deserves it.
3. Help looking after mental & physical health
Motherhood takes a toll on a woman's body. From putting on a lot of weight to experiencing extreme hair loss - there are many side effects of pregnancy. So, after the delivery, the female body takes months to heal and to lose the excess belly fat. Their families need to constantly remind them to rest well and feed them nutrient-rich meals as they are too busy running the house and catering to the needs of the baby.
A woman's mental health also suffers, and hence, self-care for mothers is crucial. She should get extra attention and affection to get out of postpartum depression. As she is trying hard to juggle work and family, she is also likely to experience mom guilt from time to time. The least her partner can do is make sure she is happy and healthy.
Parting Thoughts
In conclusion, families and workplaces should aim to welcome and accommodate working mothers without judging them.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q. What types of support do working moms need the most?
Without a strong support system, working moms cannot function. Help with childcare, sufficient free time to relax and rest, recognition at workplace, and appreciation at home are some things that every working woman expects.
Q. How can employers better support working mothers in the workplace?
Sensible employers come up with family-friendly workplace policies to guarantee working mom support. Getting childcare solutions can be one of the perks of working in a supportive environment.
