Mothers have an uncanny ability to make hard work look easy. But even the toughest moms struggled with the pressure brought on by the pandemic, not to mention the shift to remote work and virtual learning for the kids. One silver lining? Employers are finally listening to working moms' needs.
Fifty-one percent of the mothers who quit their jobs during the pandemic said they did so because their children’s schools and daycares were closed, according to data from the Kaiser Family Foundation. The study also found that mothers were more likely to miss work due to schooling or childcare than fathers.
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“If there’s one stark reminder that the pandemic drilled home for employers, I hope it’s that their employees are more than the empty desk left behind in an unused workspace,” says Michelle Crecca, chief marketing officer for the U.S. businesses at Prudential Financial. “Team members need flexibility — and encouragement to take time off — to remain both happy and productive at work. It’s something I learned early in my career as I balanced a senior role with raising three children.”
Many employers have boosted their benefits offerings as a result of the pandemic, and working parents are keeping their fingers crossed that organizations will continue to allow flexible work schedules once offices reopen.
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We asked 12 moms to share their thoughts on the support they’ve received from their employers, and where there's room for improvement. Scroll through to see what they have to say.