Five Workplace Strategies to Help Women in the Workplace
Working mothers are struggling to achieve work-life balance. To them, balance is about giving equal time and attention to their jobs: at work and home. Is there anything a business or workplace can offer to mothers to help ease their dilemma? On National Business Women Day, let us explore together some helpful strategies.
5 Workplace Strategies to help Mothers in the Workplace1
1. Understand Your Demographics
You cannot jump into adopting full-fledged strategies without understanding the demographics of your workplace first, and the percentage of women within your organization, and their percentage within each department as well.
2. Keep Both Your Eyes and Ears Open
You are trying to cater to women’s needs. Nothing helps you fulfill needs as much as listening and observing. Listen to the women within your organization. Ask them about their needs. Check with them about current policies and procedures and whether they find them helpful or not. Keep your eye open and observe the records and turnover rates.
3. Prepare Good Benefits
Help mothers with a package of good benefits. Some benefits include daycare and nursery, which help mothers focus during working hours, knowing their child is well-taken care of. Some workplaces provide a nursery within the workplace, making things much easier for mothers.
4. Help Mothers Take Their Necessary Leave
Don’t make it hard for mothers to take their necessary maternity leave. Give them the necessary time. Yet, during such times, they also need support by keeping them updated. You need to check their needs as well during such times and try to fulfill them accordingly. It is not only the maternity leave you need to support, but it’s when a mother calls in for a day off or has to run early to take care of her sick child.
5. Help Mothers Come Back from Their Leave
As much as it is important to support mothers take their leave. It’s equally important to support mothers coming back. Make it easy for them to return and upgrade their skills. Offer necessary training. Create a community where everyone participates in backing up returning mothers. Have a plan to make it easy for mothers to come back and find their place in the workplace.
Mothers in the workplace are Women. They come in with their aspirations, skills, talents, and families.
It is vital to acknowledge the role working mothers play in the workplace. In the end, those are women who are running two hectics yet, fulfilling jobs. It is important that mothers find the essential support, whether at home or work. When they get the necessary support, they are more fulfilled and happier. Happier women are happier mothers and colleagues. Let us work together towards a happier workforce.
1 Accessed 9 August 2021,https://www.fisherphillips.com/news-insights/supporting-working-mothers-during-the-pandemic-and-beyond.html Accessed 9 August 2021, https://www.forbes.com/sites/ashleystahl/2020/02/18/4-easy-ways-employers-can-support-new-mothers-in-the-workplace/?sh=1d9442117873
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