Women are a crucial part of today’s workforce. According to recent data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, they’re a whopping 56% of the labor force — and 24.2 million are mothers. To say it’s smart to offer excellent employment benefits for working moms is an understatement.
As the modern workplace evolves, companies of all sizes must make strides to accommodate diverse employee needs. Specific shifts in policy and benefits — like flexibility in work arrangements and comprehensive benefits packages — will help move the needle.
How can organizations lay the groundwork to make job benefits for working moms more attractive? To attract and retain talented working mothers, prioritizing work-life balance and supporting family obligations is the first step. Read on to learn the top employee job benefits moms are looking for.
1. Paid parental leave
Offering paid parental leave will resonate deeply with working mothers who often struggle to meet the demands of parenthood without worrying about losing income. Paid parental leave policies ensure there won’t be financial repercussions for missing work due to family obligations, ultimately revolutionizing the experience for working parents in your company.
When the moms have paid parental leave benefits, they get:
- A sense of security
- Time to bond with their children
- Healthier babies
- A mental health boost
Offering paid leave doesn’t just keep mothers happy — it improves the health of both mom and child. The American Psychological Association (APA) cites research showing that moms with paid time off after giving birth have a 51% reduction in risk of postpartum rehospitalization.
Studies also suggest that supportive policies like paid leave also improve mental health, reduce depressive symptoms, decrease marital struggles, and enhance self-esteem.
2. Flexible work hours
Whenever possible, job benefits for working moms should include flexible work hours to help support working mothers professionally while meeting parental demands. Whether this means working four days a week or having the flexibility to start later or leave earlier to accommodate family life, flexible schedules give busy working mothers autonomy. They set them up to accomplish all they need to without feeling torn or overstressed.
3. Remote work options
Remote work is more than just a perk these days. It’s become the norm for many companies. For employed moms, it can mean the best of both worlds — getting the job done when, where, and how time allows while still being present for all the little moments they don’t want to miss. What’s more…mothers want this option. Recent research finds that over 75% of moms want hybrid or remote work options.
4. Childcare support
Finding (and affording) childcare can be a massive struggle for working parents today. Companies that offer childcare benefits — like on-site daycare or stipends to help cover the cost — are attractive to mothers who need or choose to work.
In one survey, 40% of mothers said they’d be willing to leave a company for a new employer that offered better childcare benefits for working moms. That same study also found that over half (55%) of working mothers say they couldn’t afford childcare without financial help or subsidies from their company.
5. Healthcare benefits
Healthcare has always been a hot topic when it comes to attracting top talent — and healthcare employment benefits for working moms are even more critical. Comprehensive healthcare plans that cover the whole family and make access to care easy are a perk that goes a long way in supporting the mothers on your team.
6. Unlimited PTO policies
Unlimited paid time off (UPTO) ensures mothers can take time when needed without worrying about running out or having to dip into precious vacation time or sick leave. Offering UPTO has significant benefits, and research shows employees with UPTO benefits actually take less time off each year — just 13 days compared to 15 days for those with traditional PTO.
7. Fertility benefits
Progressive companies understand that supporting family planning journeys is vital if you want a workforce that feels valued and respected. Providing fertility benefits for employees shows you care about your employees’ life goals if they hope to create or grow a family.
8. Wellness programs
Effective wellness programs can be transformative in helping employed mothers endure the stress of balancing work and home life. They demonstrate that a company is invested in employee well-being, especially when it comes to the moms on the team. Poor mental health of working mothers is an emerging crisis. One recent survey found that 38% of working moms experience burnout, so promoting mind-body wellness just makes sense.
Offer access to wellness programs by providing:
- Fitness or gym memberships
- Mental health support or therapy for employees
- Nutrition counseling
- Yoga workshops
- Stress management classes
- Employee Assistance Programs (EAPs)
9. On-site amenities tailored to support parents
On-site amenities can drastically lighten the load for overwhelmed employed mothers. Well-designed and convenient perks can be the differentiator that sets your organization apart from your competitors, so you can attract the best talent while easing some of the burdens parents face.
On-site benefits for working moms might include things like:
- Childcare facilities
- Dedicated lactation rooms
- Fitness centers that are open before and after “normal” business hours
10. Education benefits
Education benefits can range from reimbursement plans for employee education to scholarships for children to access to online courses that drive career advancement. Helping employees level up in their careers is a benefit that won’t go unnoticed. The financial support or access you offer says a lot about how much you value and are willing to invest in your employees.
11. Elderly care options
Caring for aging family members can be incredibly stressful for working mothers and their families. When responsibilities shift from who will watch the kids to who will watch the kids and take care of Dad while I’m at work, the burden can become unbearable. To offset the stress, some employers today offer access to elderly care services that help moms meet familial obligations while still being able to do their jobs successfully.
The employment benefits for working moms we’ve discussed here will help you create a healthy, productive work environment so that moms are happy and fulfilled, both at work and at home. Moms can do a lot — they’re often the backbone of their households and, given the right support, they can be the backbone of your business, too.
Learn how Talkspace can help you provide essential emotional and mental health support for everyone who works for you. Talkspace makes mental health a priority, with easy access to care that’s affordable, convenient, and available when and where your employees need it.
Sources:
- “Labor Force Participation Rate for Women Highest in the District of Columbia in 2022.” U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, March 7, 2023. https://www.bls.gov/opub/ted/2023/labor-force-participation-rate-for-women-highest-in-the-district-of-columbia-in-2022.htm.
- USAFacts. “How Many Mothers Are in the US Labor Force?” USAFacts, December 29, 2023. https://usafacts.org/articles/how-many-mothers-are-in-the-labor-force/.
- Abrams, Zara. “The Urgent Necessity for Paid Parental Leave.” Monitor on Psychology 53, no. 3 (April 1, 2022): 50–50. https://www.apa.org/monitor/2022/04/feature-parental-leave.
- Gailey, Alex. “As Companies Push Return-to-Office Mandates, Working Mothers Could End up Paying the Price.” Bankrate, November 16, 2023. https://www.bankrate.com/personal-finance/return-to-office-mandates-effects-on-working-mothers/.
- “Survey Finds Four in Ten Working Mothers Likely to Change Jobs Because of Childcare Issues (Media Release).” Catalyst, October 5, 2023. https://www.catalyst.org/media-release/working-parents-childcare-problems-report.
- Bolsu, Rachel. “How to Implement an Effective Unlimited Vacation Policy.” Namely Blog: Let’s Build The Future of HR, November 1, 2018. https://blog.namely.com/unlimited-vacation-policy.
- “Motherly’s 2022 State of Motherhood Survey.” Motherly, April 29, 2022. https://www.mother.ly/news/2022-state-of-motherhood-survey/.