Empathy, Flexibility, and Support for Mothers at Workplaces

This is a contribution post by Ruchi Nasa

Motherhood changes everything. The moment you are a mother, you relinquish the position of importance to the life you have now become responsible for.

Fourteen and a half years ago, when I went back to work, all what I had in my mind was my little munchkin. The transition to work was easy because I had a six-month paid maternity leave, and I had full support of my mother and my mother-in-law who were at my beck and call. To raise my child, my mother-in-law took a premature retirement. Yet, that did not relieve me of the guilt of leaving my child each day. I moved to a part time mode for a year and a half but not many organisations allowed that, and I could not continue working that way for long.

Over the years, I have worked across three different countries, and I have felt the same pain for all the mothers who worked with me. In a managerial capacity, I tried to ensure whatever support, I could.

The traditional workplaces are meant for full time working men

They can give their 100% to work and get a royal treatment when they reach home. On the contrary, a woman still must tend to the family and home. She just cannot put her feet up and not look at a dirty house or a crying child. As Indra Nooyi says, “woman can’t have it all.” Even with an army of personal secretaries it was difficult for her to juggle the personal and professional life.

Can we make workplaces woman friendly or single parent friendly?

I believe, yes. With a little thoughtfulness and empathy, we can.

Flexible working model is a fantastic way to ensure that a woman continues to have her financial freedom and is also able to take care of her family

This includes part time working, or shift hours based on the requirements of individual. As children start attending schools, women do find that freedom to work, but most companies still are hesitant to offer this flexibility of starting work earlier or later or split hours. A punch in/out and strict monitoring of work hours does not increase productivity but is a deterrent for those who want to work but are struggling to manage both fronts. More stress should be on the actual work done rather than no of hours contracted.

The pandemic brought forth the option of working from home

Not all work is possible from home, but every job has certain aspects which can be done remotely and suits many homemakers. If not completely, at least some tasks or certain days a week can be a great relief for the parents.

Filling in for your colleague is a wonderful way to supporting each other

It may or may not be related to work, like just packing extra food for someone who struggle getting for themselves, or picking up colleagues’ child while picking your own, or just having your colleagues’ children over your home, if the other person is stuck with work are simple ways to support each other.

More places need to have safe and secure day care areas and creches for children, so that a young mother does not have to think of choosing between one and other.

It is time for society and workplaces to recognize and embrace the transformative power of motherhood. We have a long way to go, but a collective effort is the need of the hour. Together, we can pave the way for woman-friendly workplaces and a more inclusive, supportive society for all.

Dr Ruchi Nasa is a full time Histopathologist currently based in United Kingdom. When not working with her microscope, she loves to spend time in nature, read books and pen down her thoughts on her blog.

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