We won’t sugarcoat it: the statistics around parents returning to work following parental leave are pretty dire.
A recent report by Careers After Babies paints a stark picture: 85% of women are forced to leave the full-time workforce within three years of their first child due to the lack of flexible work options. The situation worsens as the number of women managers plummets by 32% post-parenthood, while administrative roles see a staggering 44% increase.
Women are either being forced into or opting to take less skilled roles as a way to find the balance and flexibility they need to maintain a career and be the parent they want to be. The report also found that it’s taking over ten years, on average, for women to bring their earnings back up to where they were pre-children.
Anecdotally, more people are speaking up about the lack of understanding and nuance needed for parents looking to return to the workforce.
It’s not just about being supported administratively but emotionally and socially.
Our Endorsed Employers know that more needs to be done in this space, and we’re delighted to share insights from two powerhouse organizations that are getting it right.
Encouraging connection & community at EY
Kathryn Noakes, Oceania DE&I Talent Attraction & Acquisition Manager with EY, shares how EY acknowledges that returning to work is about so much more than resettling into a job role and how their program considers the social and emotional impact of this journey:
“We know that the return from family leave can be a challenging time in people’s lives. Adapting back to professional careers, learning new routines, and maybe settling into a flexible work arrangement for the first time – it’s not easy.”
To support individuals during this time, EY encourages participation in their Rediscover program. This 16-week program provides tips, tools, and strategies to assist the return-to-work journey and offers participants the opportunity to:
- Learn through an impactful speaker series.
- Connect as a cohort to support and encourage each other.
- Pair up with a mentor and benefit from advice based on their own personal experiences.
“The whole program is carefully curated, with monthly themes and post-program resources, plus a flexible work culture and job redesign options, which help employees balance their career and home life effectively.”
The Rediscover program is open to anyone returning to work after six months or more of family leave, and they welcome participation from new starters and current employees.
Meet Kate Griffiths, Senior Manager, Tax, Ernst & Young, Australia:
“Returning to work after my second round of parental leave, with two boys under three, and juggling part-time work with a busy family schedule was daunting. Upon my return, my boss recommended that I join the EY Rediscover program, and I am so glad that I did. The program connected me with a community of fellow parents and carers facing the same challenges, along with mentors willing to share their lived experiences and survival tips. The program acknowledged our dual roles at home and work and the pressure this can bring. It was reassuring and empowering, and I felt supported as I transitioned back to work.
As well as the Rediscover program, access to work flexibly has been invaluable. With small children, there are so many things that you can’t plan for. Recently, our children’s daycare center burnt down over the weekend. Suddenly, I had two children at home and still had a job to do. With the support of my team, I was able to work around this, to care for my children and also, still deliver on my work commitments.”
