Guest blog topic: Moms and their careers
My friend and coworker Steph Paquette is forging new networks for CM Access in Rhode Island. She has been someone who’s insight and experience I respect, so I thought it a good time to share her perspective. It’s a great topic to spur conversation, so we’d love to hear your thoughts: are you a hiring manager trying to schedule maternity leave into your planning in 08? Are you a new mom who’s learning how different things are than you thought? From Steph’s own words, here’s some discussion on balancing your career and being a mom.
“So…you’re pregnant…CONGRATS! Now that the word is out and the shower has been thrown, comes the dreaded “maternity leave” conversation. When should your last day be? How long will you take? And the worst…When will you be returning to work?
This question may not be on top of your mind, but it better be there soon. Employers need to know what type of staffing issues they are facing. The longer you delay in making that decision, the more under the gun your supervisor gets and the less time there is to train someone to do the job the way you would like it done.
For some of us, we like to think that the return to work is inevitable, but the truth is that we just don’t know. That little bundle of joy enters the scene and all of a sudden time has no meaning and the days seem to run into each other. For some, returning to work is a financial decision and a “need”. For others, it is a “want”. Having something that isn’t baby-related to break up the new “mom-hood”. And then there are the ones, who for whatever reason, don’t return to the workforce. For those women, they may not know that this will be them when they leave. They may figure it out while they are watching their child sleep in their arms or while witnessing their first rollover or while looking at the actual cost of childcare. Whatever the reasons, your employer needs to know your intentions as soon as possible.
Major elements to consider when deciding if returning is the best choice for you include:
You should ask yourself what type of “culture” does your employer promote and figure out if it fits your needs now. For example…if you have typically been employed with an advertising agency, their culture is one of “Work hard, Play hard” and include long hours and deadline driven projects. This is probably not the best environment for a new mom due to the unsteadiness of scheduling and demand on your time. There are exceptions…but when the push comes to shove… do you really want to have to make the choice between family and career?
To all those who are reading this saying…”this won’t be me”…I said the same thing! Now I am a working mom who hung up her late night, weekends, high stress agency lifestyle for one that I can close the computer and turn off the cell phone at 5:30pm to spend quality time with my 2 year old son.
If you are interested in exploring “family-friendly” workplaces, check out your local business journal. There is a usually a listing or business profile to help you get information about certain companies.”
And if I may add my own two cents, I’d recommend inquiring about the company policy when considering a new career opportunity. Not because you’re divulging personal information that could be disciminatory, but simply weighing all of your options and learning about all that the company offers.
Technorati Tags: working mom, career mom, mothers in the workplace, maternity leave, company policy, contract negotiation
