How to Help Working Moms
Following a year marred by a pandemic, less-than-favorable news has emerged about the impact shutdowns, lockdowns, remote learning, and quarantine had on working moms. According to the 2020 Parents at the Best Workplaces Report, 2.4 million working moms suffer from workplace burnout. Even worse, just by being a mom, women are 28% more likely to experience burnout over fathers.
When schools began the shutdown process last Spring, that left many working parents scrambling. Not only were working moms forced to adjust to the new norm that is working from home. But throw in the fact that children were now also home trying to learn remotely, and the stats can’t be that surprising. Parents had to balance their livelihoods, legacies, partners, and households, all while having no escape 24/7.
Now, 12+ months later, it’s time for help to arrive. That means it’s your move employers, government officials, partners, and community leaders alike.
What Can Employers Do
Offer Flexible Schedules or Unpaid Leave – Flexible schedule doesn’t just mean allowing workers to conduct business remotely, it might also mean a part-time schedule to accommodate for the balance families are going through.
Provide Some Child Care Costs Coverage – If parents have childcare options, it allows them to focus on their job at hand for your company. With this help, quitting doesn’t become a viable option. Don’t put employees in a position to send their children back to school if they aren’t ready to, just so that they can continue to collect a paycheck.
Job Protection With Unpaid Leave – As is the case with maternity leave under the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA), companies should give parents the opportunity to take 12 weeks unpaid with job protection. It shows an organization’s dedication to the employee and support for them as a person. There’s no better time to do this, especially in an environment that exposed a real human side to us all.
What Can Government Do
Financial Support for Child Care – You don’t need another mom telling you that the backing for parents in the United States is way behind many countries. If you aren’t aware of the differences when it comes to maternity leave, Google it, and prepare for your jaw to drop. It’s time to help parents at the time they need it most.
Tax Credits for Companies Who Retain or Rehire Moms – The amount of moms who have given up their jobs or careers to take care of their kids during this pandemic is saddening. Companies need a reason to fight for these moms, and money talks, especially during an economic downturn. Supporting companies in this endeavor supports working moms.
Extend Coronavirus Paid Leave – The Families First Coronavirus Response Act required most employers to cover employees with paid expanded family and medical leave at up to two-thirds the employee’s regular pay if they are unable to work because they need to care for a child whose school or childcare provider is closed due to COVID 19. These parameters were put in place with an effective date through December 31, 2020. It’s time to consider extending this effective date, something the Biden administration is looking to address in some capacity to make available through September.
What Can Partners Do
Support and Check-In – This recommendation is especially important for the partner who hasn’t been affected as harshly when it comes to their work world. If both parents are working from home, this can be as simple as offering the parent who’s taken the lead on childcare a quieter area of the house to conduct their work needs in or helping out around the house, even if that just means cleaning up after yourself.
What Can Community Do
Tutoring/Child Care Programs – If you’re someone who can offer tutoring or childcare needs to others within your community, step up. From a college student between semesters to a childcare provider who is without a job or facility to report to, check in with your neighbors.
What else can be done during an unprecedented time to support working moms and parents? Share your thoughts by commenting below.