Childcare Spaces to Flexible Hours: How Offices Can Improve For Working Moms

Working moms have to juggle innumerable things. From taking care of the family to excelling at work, there is no end to the stack of responsibilities on their shoulders. However, employers can make the lives of working mothers a little easier by implementing friendly policies.

Recently, an Assam cop made waves on social media, when as a new mother, she was forced to rejoin the service with her baby because her leaves were not extended. While some hailed the spirit of the cop, others were convinced that Indian employers must incorporate a few policies to make the work environment supportive of working mothers.

Here is a list of a few glitches that Indian companies can fix in their HR policies,

Paid Parental Leaves

Offering working moms paid parental leaves would help them take care of their children with complete devotion without worrying about the mayhem at the workplace. It would ensure that the baby received undivided care, and the mother could get back to work with enthusiasm eventually

Paid parental leave ensures a working mother that her employers are not treating her like a bot to increase their business, but she and her family matter to them. It assures an employee that her priorities at home are also valued at the workplace.

Include Flexible Work Hours

If the workplaces have flexible hours, it will make the life of a working mother much easier. Flexible hours mean she could attend to her family and deliver work on time.

Flexible work hours also mean that a working mother can avail of work from home in case she needs it. It will help them cut the commute time and increase their productivity. Also, a hybrid work environment means a mother can attend to the needs of her children, like dropping them to school, picking them up, and helping with their homework.

Samvida Tiwari, a 35-year-old working mother from Greater Noida, said that she had to leave her job during second pregnancy because her then company did not have any policies for working from home. Due to a few complications, she was on bed rest and needed maternity leave for more than three months. Since her request was not assisted, she was forced to take a break from her career for 18 months.

Schedule Meetings During The Work Hours

Most employees plan their day depending on the work to be completed, events to attend and scheduled meetings. If employers schedule meetings, seminars, workshops, etc. during shift hours, it is convenient for a working mother to devote herself.

However, in situations where companies schedule meetings after work hours, it becomes hard for a mother to be completely present. There could be many things that would distract her mind, making it impossible to concentrate on work.

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Include A Child Care Space

Leaving a child at home or in a crèche is something that every mother struggles with. She remains distracted throughout the time, and in India, not every child care facility is affordable for everyone. Either companies should incorporate such a facility or build a workspace near one.

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Therefore, employers must create a childcare space so that the mother can remain worry-free about the health and well-being of her child. It will help a working mom concentrate on her work. While not every employer can accommodate a crèche at the workplace, a company must definitely make a deal with a nearby childcare facility.

Is your office supportive of working moms? Share in the Facebook comment section what facilities should be incorporated at workplaces to make the environment more convenient for new mothers.