Mental Health and Working Mothers
May 23, 2022
May is a month we celebrate our mothers, but it's also a month designated to focus on mental health, formally called Mental Health Awareness month. Since the mental health of working mothers is vital for the workplace, we feel it's necessary to find out new ways to help them cope with work-related stress. We cover ways to support our working moms to help keep our workforce, economy, and businesses thriving.
The Stress of Being a Working Mother
Being a working mom is not for the faint-hearted. Mothers typically take on the majority of household duties, and childcare, on top of their employment. It’s a lot to juggle and, at times, unrealistic, causing undue stress to moms. Anxiety can also stem from mothers worrying about their reputation of reliability. Taking time off to care for sick children, getting their kids to doctor's appointments, and occasionally taking PTO for themselves makes it difficult to be at work without constant interruptions. There is also the stress of choosing between work or staying at home that many moms might experience; in both scenarios, mothers are burdened with guilt and anxiety.
Create an Empathetic Environment
Creating an environment of understanding and trust can help mothers feel valued. Knowing that a mom might be juggling too much at once and recognizing it can help reduce burnout. Working mothers can experience burnout more so than other employees. According to WebMD, burnout is a form of exhaustion caused by constantly feeling swamped. Burnout signs include disengagement, fatigue, absenteeism, and sensitivity to feedback. When a mom shows these signs at work, managers and teams alike should work to support her. Supporting a mom includes asking what she needs assistance with and ensuring clear expectations. Above all, assuring moms that they are still an asset to the team is vital to their mental health.
Additional Benefits
We need moms in our workforce because our labor market is incredibly tight. So how do we persuade moms to stay at work after giving birth? Extending paid maternity and paternity leave is a great start. In the U.S., some employers (depending on size) grant new mothers 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave per law. However, 23% of moms are back to work after two weeks. Because of the lack of paid leave, moms will scrap together PTO and sick days to cover costs and then return to work having used these funds. When returning so quickly to work, some mothers are still coping with physical and mental recovery. Returning to work too soon can cause undue stress, leading to stress and anxiety. When we look at data in other countries that offer generous paid leaves, mothers return to work at higher rates. Allowing mothers to mentally and physically recover from childbirth and allowing them time to connect with their babies will help keep working mothers in the workforce and improve their mental health.
Childcare Assistance
Due to the pandemic, many mothers are facing significant increases in the cost of childcare. As a result, mothers are leaving the workforce in droves to take care of their children full-time to overcome the cost of care. A way to avoid this exodus from the workplace is by assisting with childcare costs. Programs such as monthly childcare allowance or billing employers directly for childcare are ways to help working moms. Setting up a free daycare facility at the office is another avenue employers can consider. Without the burden of childcare costs, we can hope to alleviate some financial stress on working mothers, leading to better mental health.
Allowing Flexibility
Working virtually has created an environment that has allowed people, including mothers, a new type of freedom. Working mothers are finding more free time in their day due to the elimination of a commute. Many mothers have worked closely with their managers to establish a more custom schedule to adjust to their kids' schedules. Working moms can pick up and drop off their children from school. They can also attend various appointments throughout the week. This flexibility allows for a less disruptive day and reduces stress. If companies work towards a flexible schedule, they may find that their retention rates will increase on all fronts.
Analysts is Here to Help
At Analysts, we strive to assist tech professionals in identifying employers who value their work and create empathetic and flexible environments. Contact us today if you are seeking a new opportunity that offers better flexibility and benefits.
