Working Mums Do It All - By Natalie Clark
Taking a job with the promise of flexible working and family friendly policies sounds great when you're a working mother. But in reality, how often do those promises translate "in the real world" to meet your expectations. On second thought, not even expectations, but the bare minimum of adjustments you would actually need to be effective in your position.
Of course, the type of role that you hold and industry you work in, will offer variants to what is needed - but basic principles of human kindness and common sense shouldn't be compromised. Working Mum or not.
I know that men play a huge and important part to play in raising their children, I'm not disregarding that. I'm fortunate enough that my husband is an active anchor in our family and a never-ending source of help and support for all of us. But the bottom line reality is that the lions share of the rearing - is down to me, just like millions of other women out there trying to balance their career and their children.
The average working Mum, has an additional 57.9 hours of work at home per week. Over half of working mothers feel burnout from work. Not surprising really.
A staggering 41% of working mothers, last year, reported that they felt as though just by being a parent, they were being held back from promotion and development opportunities in the workplace.
And you know what, I've been that Mum. I've been disregarded for training courses because I was on maternity leave, I've been passed over for promotion because I was on maternity leave. In one job I asked for flexible working (to work 95% believe it or not) it was met with a brick wall and there’s lots more. But my horror stories pale into insignificance over some of the injustices I've heard from other mothers.
Why, in this day and age, are working mothers regarded as a risk to employers? Since I've been a parent I've got the skills of multitasking and organisation down to a fine art. I can function on very little sleep and make executive decisions under pressure. I've got a wider sense of purpose and responsibility, I have better patience, and most of all - I lead a tribe of strong and practical women. If I can do that, I can do anything.
I'm also very lucky that I've found my place in an organisation that celebrates and supports working mothers, it actively works to improve the gender imbalance. We've built policies on closing the gender pay gap, we have flexible (and actually flexible) working as standard. We've got support for Mum's returning to the workforce, and enhanced maternity and paternity leave. There is no room for Working Mum Guilt because I can finally be my best at both.
More than ever it's a candidates market - and culture is playing a huge part of the decision making process. If you're an organisation that expects your employees to be solely work-focussed robots - then you're missing out on a huge amount of talent, and most importantly, you're wrong.
By Natalie Clark
