Joyce Lee on LinkedIn: #equity #ergs #womenforwomen #workingmums #workingparents… (2024)

Did you know it takes a full two years after giving birth for a woman to feel like herself again? It's true:✨ Two whole years for hormones to return to normal.✨ Two whole years for brain chemistry to balance.Looking at maternity leave practices in Asia, it's common practice for most mothers return to work after just 12 weeks. But digging deeper into the experiences of working mothers reveals a harsh reality: Women finding themselves unable to pursue their chosen careers while being the mothers they want to be! The findings from Career After Babies are eye-opening: 98% of surveyed women expressed a desire to return to work after having their babies. Yet, three years later, 85% had left full-time employment. This underscores a critical question: how did we miss the mark so badly in supporting new parents back to work?Personally, I've only recently started feeling like a version of myself I recognize, 2.5 years later. I count myself fortunate to work for a company that provides robust support for new parents, from extended leave to comprehensive medical insurance and mentorship programs. However, I recognize that my experience is not the norm, as I've heard countless horror stories from fellow mamas returning to work postpartum.So, I'm asking: how can we genuinely support women through this transition? &What steps can we take, both on a personal level and from a company perspective, to retain new parents within our organizations?And to any new mamas reading this, I want to remind you to be kind and patient with yourself. Everything is new, and every difficult stage will pass. Trust in your journey, and give yourself the grace you deserve. You're doing an amazing job!#frommetowe #shethrives #workingmums #matrescence #returningtowork #twoyearspostpartum #doingitdifferently

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Seeking Insights: Overcoming Hurdles for Mothers Returning to WorkHello LinkedIn community,As we celebrate the incredible strength and resilience of mothers, I wanted to shed light on a challenge many of us face—returning to the workforce after a maternity break. It's disheartening to see how difficult it can be for highly capable and experienced mothers to find suitable job opportunities.As a mother returning to the workforce after a fulfilling maternity break, I am experiencing firsthand the challenges that many mothers face in finding suitable job opportunities. It's disheartening to encounter the hurdles that often come with this transition. Many employers overlook the valuable expertise and dedication that returning mothers bring to the table.Balancing the demands of motherhood while pursuing professional growth is undoubtedly a journey filled with unique hurdles. As mothers, we bring valuable skills, adaptability, and a fresh perspective to the workplace. Yet, we often encounter obstacles when trying to reintegrate into the job market.I believe that by sharing our collective wisdom and experiences, we can empower one another and pave the way for positive change. I invite you to join the conversation and share any tips, insights, or success stories you have encountered or witnessed regarding overcoming these hurdles.- How can we help mothers returning to work find suitable job opportunities?- What strategies have you found effective in bridging the gap after a maternity break?- Have you witnessed or implemented supportive workplace policies that cater to working mothers?Let's leverage the power of our network and support each other in finding fulfilling and meaningful careers while embracing the joys of motherhood. Together, we can create a more inclusive and supportive professional landscape for mothers.Please feel free to comment or message me directly with your thoughts, experiences, or any valuable resources you would like to share. I look forward to hearing your insights and learning from your journeys.To all the amazing mothers out there, keep shining brightly both as parents and professionals. Your strength is inspiring, and your contributions are invaluable.#WorkingMothers #MaternityBreak #ReturningToWork #CareerGrowth #Empowerment #job #jobopportunities #growth #work #help

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Last week at Narratives we interviewed a candidate for a role who will give birth in … two weeks. If this person gets the job it will be because they’re the best person for the job.I told them directly, “Listen, a child is a blessing and a birth is to be celebrated. Straight up, we are not viewing you giving birth in 2 weeks as a point against you. We just need to think creatively about how we could make this work.” This is how every interview with a pregnant person should go.If this is surprising to you, let me explain my thinking so I can bring you along with me. The main takeaway of the WORK chapter in my book Modern Manhood was this: the modern workplace was never designed for women to succeed and they won’t unless there is massive systemic upheaval.Today I was proud to put my money where my mouth was in helping be a part of that change I so desperately want to see for us. Here’s a creative solution we proposed for this potential candidate. I’ll walk you through it - they could join the team for two weeks, look under the hood and deliver an assessment along with a recommended initial strategy. Then, while they’re on mat leave, my team could execute the strategy and when they come back from mat leave, we’d have organic data to present and they could take the reigns.Viewing pregnancy and birth as a strike against a potential employee is not only a relic of a crumbling, antiquated way of running a team; it’s also delusional. Many of your fantastic employees will grow their families, a beautiful thing, and instead of seeing this as a negative or a challenge, I encourage all team leads, execs and hiring managers to get with the program and reframe your thinking.Proud of us today at Narratives and sharing with the hopes that this encourages you to do the same.

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Today marks the final day of 4.5 months of parental leave and what an incredible and re-energizing time it has been! I will not make this a lenghty post but an honest one which might be relatable for some women of my generation.I felt some anxiety taking this LOA…Even if I didn’t take any extra day off during my almost 20 year career.Anxiety for how it could impact my career, what people might think and how some might perceive this as “quitting” or “giving up” or “not being able to handle”. Being asked during my 2nd pregnancy “who the lead career has” or being asked during interviews “what my husband does for a living”, didn’t help building a lot of comfort in the past.The moment I let go of work - which btw was not day 1 😊 - I knew this was the right thing to do at the right time. I have enjoyed every minute of spending time with my kids and loved ones! Both them and myself feel this is a time we will cherish forever filled with amazing memories and adventures. Soon they will be young independent adults who don’t think I am cool enough anymore 😊I also took the time for some me-time. Turning 41, I was confronted - as many women of my generation/age - with that question “is this it”? What changes do I want to make? I don’t have all the answers yet and doubt if I will ever have, but I have a much clearer view now.Times are luckily changing and governments and companies are catching up. Add on some amazing colleagues and a fantastic team, and together we are paving the way for the next generations.So whatever we can do to normalize (parental) leaves and to take away that anxiety for impacts on careers, it is so much worth it, as I start tomorrow more re-energized and stronger than ever!

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Only last week I was featured in @graziauk about my maternity support for companies and organisations. (full article: https://lnkd.in/eqnXxj3p). I highlighted how vital it is for companies to fully appreciate the huge benefit new parents can be in the workplace and the value that they add to an employer. The concluding paragraph was:“But the good news is, things are moving forward. 'Employers are finally starting to see the huge value of new parent skills in the workplace,' Love says. 'Who wouldn’t want an employee who can multitask, show compassion, build relationships, has great non-verbal communication skills, heightened stress management?' These are all key skills that new mums have in bucketloads.”Just a few days later I am reading research by @pregnantthenscrewed which included statistics like the above and real comments from pregnant employees including shocking statements like “my boss said I should get a coat hanger for that baby”, and I realised we still have a long way to go for equality in the workplace. I have spent 20 years helping new parents adapt and transition back to work following a baby, now I want to use those skills to educate companies on how to best support parents to be and new parents so make that transition easier for everyone.Find out more about me and the support I offer to businesses and employees here: https://lnkd.in/eREd8FeW

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“𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐧𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐚𝐟𝐭𝐞𝐫 𝐈 𝐠𝐨𝐭 𝐛𝐚𝐜𝐤 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐢𝐭𝐲 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐯𝐞.”Said almost every woman I have had the privilege to speak to over the last two months.❌I was transferred to a different team after returning from maternity leave.❌I was asked to work like I have no kids if I wanted any chance at getting promoted.❌I was told I couldn't get that promotion I was dreaming of after getting back from ML.❌I was expected to work 12-14 hours just to show that I still got what it takes! Using pregnancy and maternity as a means to downplay a woman's professional growth is discriminatory.A specific bias reserved for moms. Something they don't deserve after bringing another human being into this world. So many organizations talk D&I, but what real actions support and include new moms in the jobs they've invested so much in?Just to be clear, new moms have skills that are incredibly relevant in any workplace:✅𝐓𝐢𝐦𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭 → balancing demands of a new life and functioning on bare minimum sleep✅𝐌𝐮𝐥𝐭𝐢𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 → juggling multiple baby related tasks in conjunction with personal ones✅𝐀𝐝𝐚𝐩𝐭𝐚𝐛𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐲 → to new routines including a new life to care for.✅𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐮𝐧𝐢𝐜𝐚𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 → clear, no-nonsense and effective skills used for diffusing conflicts and tantrums.✅𝐏𝐫𝐨𝐛𝐥𝐞𝐦 𝐬𝐨𝐥𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 → analyzing symptoms, diagnosis and resolving baby problems through research.✅𝐄𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐭𝐡𝐲 → understanding different perspectives✅𝐓𝐞𝐚𝐦𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐤 → delegating, coordinating and co-parenting efficiently✅𝐑𝐞𝐬𝐢𝐥𝐢𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 → they bravely take on the changes in their body and mind, facing highs and lows with courage.✅𝐎𝐮𝐭-𝐨𝐟-𝐭𝐡𝐞-𝐛𝐨𝐱-𝐭𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠 → finding fun and innovative ways to engage and entertain kids.Yes, priorities change after becoming a mother but their skills and experience only get better. It is 2024 so expecting women to work like they have no kids and raise kids like they don't work is not cool. Organizations should focus on shifting this status quo, one that supports, includes and uplifts new moms. Not penalize them. P.S- How has motherhood affected your career progression?---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------👋Hi, I’mAnupama Udayan💡I help women quit their toxic jobs confidently.🤙DM "QUIT" to learn more.

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🌟 Exciting News! We're thrilled to kick off our series of interviews shedding light on the real-life experiences of working mothers in Southeast Asia. 🌍👩💼Today, we had the privilege of meeting Nila Susilo, the Global Subsidiaries Group Client Desk Head at Citi. Nila's journey as a working mom is both inspiring and relatable, showcasing the resilience and determination that many mothers exhibit as they navigate the intricate balance between career and family.👶🤱"Mentally, as a working mom, your priorities suddenly change, and you feel the weight on your shoulders to "have it all," meaning being able to manage your time perfectly to excel at work, pump milk, prepare MPASI, and also be a present and loving wife.I am lucky to have really supportive bosses. I report to a male boss locally and a female boss regionally, both of whom are parents, and were able to understand my situation. They gave me the flexibility I needed to excel at work and have enough time to spend with my family. My son was born during the pandemic, so I was lucky enough to immerse myself in motherhood during the four months of maternity leave and then continue to work from home until he was one year old. While that sounds great on paper, it became more of a struggle to balance time because I felt more pressure to be present for my family versus work. My female boss acknowledged this and gave me the best advice that I still practice, which is to compartmentalize my time and create clearly allocated schedules for work and family to set expectations for all parties.Having supportive bosses who understood my situation was probably the single greatest component in supporting the postpartum period and coming back to work. For example, my male boss not only acknowledged but also supported my breastfeeding journey. He even voiced amazement and support that I was still pumping at 10 months while working at the same time, which was a significant mental boost and helped me feel relieved that it wasn't considered a burden to the firm.Based on that, I believe that educating management and colleagues on empathy toward moms returning to work is key. Sometimes, there's a view that maternity leave is a holiday when it is, more often than not, harder than work.As mentioned earlier, I still practice compartmentalizing my time. This helps in setting clear schedules for both family and my office, especially for my team, who rely on me for leadership. It also allows me to schedule some "me time" whenever I can, helping to restore my soul, which is something we moms need more often than we give ourselves credit or time for. A happy mom contributes to a happy family!"Stay tuned for more inspiring stories in our #HeyvaMom series as we continue to celebrate and learn from the incredible women who navigate the world of motherhood and careers. 💪👩💼👩👧👦 #WorkingMoms #BalancingAct #EmpoweredMothers #WorkLifeIntegration #LeadershipSupport #Inspiration #MotherhoodJourney

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It's been about a year since my focus changed from science communication to my baby nurturing. Though I had the feeling of idleness regarding my career during this period, I knew the time would fly, I may come on track with my career, but the time and attention my baby needs now will never be the same. It will impact his development, directly on indirectly, for a lifetime. In the 21st century world, women are being independent in many ways, and thus, how much you convince yourself and want to give 100% to motherhood, women feel emptiness while being on the break. Are we women so career-focused and wishing to be independent that we are losing precious moments of our lives? Why are we making sad faces while telling people about our maternity breaks? Why do people blame our babies for our inability to work, though we know it beforehand? Are we emphasizing work over life? Though I am fortunate to be in a positive surrounding, prioritizing my and my baby's health over anything else, it is essential to raise a question for other women who suffer from managing themselves, their baby, and their profession simultaneously within 3-4 months of postpartum. Also, people like me who get support from family also feel a stillness in their career and need to hear that they are doing a fantastic job of nurturing a future generation who will work on regenerating the planet which is ruined by our and older generations in the name of progress. Don't you people think that providing positivity can help mothers enjoy their motherhood without being guilty of many things they cannot do? #science #work #job #career #development #health #future #help #communication #planet #sciencecommunication #scicomm #motherhood #positivemindset #positivity

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9 months. That’s how old my daughter, Maeve, is.Lately, I’ve found myself reflecting on the journey of returning to work just six weeks after her birth. While I felt compelled to resume my professional responsibilities, it became clear that the support I needed was not available in my previous workplace.Postpartum is an inherently demanding time, and returning to work amidst its challenges requires careful navigation and self-care. Regardless of the timing of your return, it's essential to prioritize your well-being and advocate for yourself in the workplace.Here are some insights and tips I've gathered along the way:-Listen to Your Needs: Trust your instincts and prioritize self-care as you navigate the complexities of postpartum life and the transition back to work.-Seek Support: Surround yourself with a supportive network of friends, family, and colleagues who understand the unique challenges you're facing.-Set Boundaries: Be clear about your boundaries with your employer. If you’re lucky enough, open communication can lead to accommodations that support your well-being.-Prioritize Self-Care: Make time for activities that nourish your mind, body, and soul, whether it's taking breaks, practicing mindfulness, or engaging in hobbies you enjoy.-Know Your Rights: Familiarize yourself with your rights as a new parent in the workplace, including parental leave policies and accommodations for breastfeeding mothers.Remember, your journey is valid and deserving of support. By prioritizing your well-being and advocating for yourself, you can navigate the challenges of postpartum and returning to work with resilience and grace. #PostpartumJourney #ReturningToWork #SelfCare

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Return back to work?? or take a complete break??A maternity break or gap is not inherently a curse or misfortune for a woman returning to work. It's a period of time that's often filled with joy and fulfillment as a woman cares for her newborn child. However, societal perceptions or workplace biases may sometimes treat it as a disadvantage, which can be unfair. Instead, it should be recognized as a natural part of life that provides opportunities for personal growth and development, both professionally and personally.Support females who are willing to restart their careers 🙂 #maternitybreak #workingprofessionals #womenemployees #careergaps #returntowork

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