Keeping mum
Over the weekend there was yet more coverage (see here and here) around how one of the groups most affected by the rise in unemployment is working mums.
The Alliance Against Pregnancy Discrimination in the Workplace believes that pregnant and new mums are more likely to face redundancy in this recession. 30,000 mums actually lose their jobs each year as a result of becoming pregnant.
As a new mum myself, with a beautiful 14 month old son, I was unlucky enough to face redundancy just six weeks after returning to work from maternity leave. As an ambitious professional it was certainly a blow to my confidence – and made me wonder if working life would ever be the same again.
I have experienced, as many working mums have no doubt similarly gone through, negative reactions to my wish to work part-time – from eyes glazing mid interview when the topic of part time was raised to people commenting that anyone wanting to work less than the traditional working week is doing it purely for ‘pocket money’.
It seems archaic to me that in this day and age mothers (who lets face it are essential to the continuation of society) who wish to continue their professional development still face this kind of attitude. Who decided that ambition and professionalism can only be offered by someone who works five days a week? In fact, in a recession part time working can be a bonus to companies – who can get the experience and skills they need, without paying the full salary. Recruitment websites are reporting a steep increase in workers searching for part time employment – both men and women potentially – so it may be something employers need to start considering more.
I was extremely lucky to find a job with an understanding and forward thinking employer like Quest. Quest looked beyond the fact that I only wanted a four day a week role and instead saw an experienced PR professional who was eager, motivated, ambitious and prepared to work hard.
Sadly many of my ex-colleagues who had children felt unable to return to PR. I find it sad that many years of experience and outstanding skills are being lost to the industry simply because many in it still have an old-fashioned view of what it means to employ working mums. If nothing else you show me a PR team which couldn’t benefit from an employee who can juggle 15 jobs at once with their eyes closed, can keep calm in any crisis, shows compassion and understanding to colleagues, can handle an unruly or demanding colleague or client without blinking and above all wants to be working*?
Working mums don’t want special treatment – they just want the chance to enjoy working as well as being a parent.
* I’d like to make clear that I’m not in any way implying all mothers have these skills and all non-parents don’t. Honest.
I was lucky enough to find an employer who was happy for me to work three days a week. I now work for a great PR agency in Sheffield and enjoy my job, which allows me to combine motherhood with a career. My employer gets a happy professional who is focused and driven (with seven years experience)and I get to use my brain for things other than going to Tumbletots and chasing a one year old around the house! (which i love!) You’re right, we need more employers like these.
Comment made on 23 June, 2009 @ 4:16 pm
I’ve been with my now husband for 11 years and left the PR industry 5 years ago with the intention of starting a family after we got married (2 years ago). I realised that it was so hard to work unpredictable hours and start a family so I decided to work for myself. Whilst this is also really hard, it is much more flexible in terms of working hours and as I work in retail I have predictable hours so I don’t need to worry about a meeting over running or a press release that needs finishing for a deadline. I am now almost 22 weeks pregnant and can’t wait for my first baby to arrive later this year. If PR employers were more flexible in terms of working hours when I worked in PR, I probably wouldn’t have been so keen to move away from the industry. I praise those companies who support flexible and part time working for Mums.
Comment made on 24 June, 2009 @ 10:59 am
Nice job Quest. We have *several* folks going on maternity leave this year and we are a small company undergoing fast growth. It’s a real blow to the business; but the right thing to do is to support families and the team members that were good enough to get into the biz in the first place!—otherwise all companies will be run by white males…. and we know where that gets us (banking crisis, Enron, automakers, American politics pre Obama, etc.).
We are in in the process of looking at making our maternity leave more robust. Any ideas would be be appreciated. But, in the meantime, we are working with our expectant mums to sort the gap and provide flexibility on the return to suit the new lifestyle. Some business is not set up for this, but most could find real value if they tried.
Comment made on 29 June, 2009 @ 11:01 pm
I am returning to work in just one week, after 9 wonderful months with my baby girl (sob!). I requested a 3 day week but was immediately refused and told that they wouldn’t consider less than 4 days. I suspect no matter how hard I pushed (and I did try to a certain extent) that position would not have changed. I understand that it is difficult for employers to accomodate part time staff sometimes, but I would be returning to work feeling much more positive and dedicated if my employer could have at least shown some understanding, or attempted to find a workable solution. As it is I am going back feeling a teensy bit resentful and with half an eye on the job ads.
One positive thing is that my husband recently started a new job and from the off his employer stressed that they would be flexible with his hours as needed, so that he could do any picking up and dropping off at the nursery as needed. Without this I would have had to look for a new job as I have a major commute and wouldn’t be able to both drop off and pick up our baby girl from nursery.
One thing my husband and I have talked about is in the future both doing 4 day weeks, so I suppose it isn’t just working mums who need employers who can be a bit more flexible.
Comment made on 10 July, 2009 @ 11:42 am
When my boys were born 13 and 11 years ago I was in the fortunate position that I could work part-time (3 days a week) because my husband could afford to supplement our income and as a new mum I wanted to stay at home as much as possible. Now as a single mum times have changed and I need to work full-time to maintain my lifestyle – and pay the bills! Luckily when my child minder informed me that she was no longer providing her services I panicked and had to ask my employer for flexible working hours to fit around school. At Quest PR this wasn’t a problem however some might not have been so understanding. I also know a single dad who spends half his time in the office and half working from home to look after his kids. I don’t think it will be long before we see a full swing in the balance.
Comment made on 10 July, 2009 @ 1:01 pm