Pregnancy in the Workforce

As a Recruitment Consultant, I often have conversations with women who are returning to the workforce after maternity leave, which often ignites a range of thoughts and emotions. Soon to be going on maternity leave for the first time myself, I have been reflecting on these conversations even more as I navigate this uncharted territory. Some of stories that women have shared with me have been very positive, and others, not so unfortunately. 

The journey itself of pregnancy can be a daunting experience with so many factors coming into play; add work into the mix and it can present a whole other range of potential concerns such as finding the right time to tell your employer, managing your pregnancy symptoms at work, and discussing your return-to-work plan. 

More often than not, I have heard from professional women that informing their workplace about their pregnancy was usually fuelled by anxiety around the unknown of how their employer will react, sometimes coupled with a sense of guilt for taking time out of work. Australia today, has come far with pregnancy in the workforce, however, there certainly is still a way to go, especially in some industries. The fact that there is still this trepidation surrounding pregnancy in some workplaces is something that needs to change. 

In my daily conversations with clients, I am hearing more and more businesses implementing some excellent parental leave policies. Interestingly and encouragingly, an increasing number of these businesses that are stepping up to the plate are more blue-collar environments consisting of a typically higher male-dominated population, in the bid to bridge the gender gap in the workforce. These parental leave policies are empowering both women and men, ensuring that a safe and transparent environment is fostered in relation to pregnancy. We should be celebrating new life, not fearing it!

I recently read a small personal account from a woman in the workforce on LinkedIn who is a civil engineer with two infant children. She describes her demanding work schedule, which begins mostly at night after she puts her children to bed and heads off to work. She explains various opinions that people dished out, advising she should be home at night with her children and essentially should give up her career. She states that the reason why she does what she does is purely because she loves her children and wants the best for them. She wants to be an example for her children, especially her daughter, showing her that nothing should be off limits as a woman and mother. Workplaces should be applauding this mentality and creating an environment where it makes balancing work and personal life easier. 

Returning to the workforce after maternity leave can be an overwhelming experience for mothers, and so you would hope for your employer to orchestrate and nurture a smooth transition back into the business for you. I personally have a support network at The Next Step who are dedicated in maintaining a strong connection with me throughout my leave, which I am grateful for. They want to ensure that I am kept abreast of the business’ activities and that I continue to feel connected to my colleagues and the business, so that my return will be as seamless as possible. My advice to any woman who is soon to embark on their own maternity leave is to enquire about their employer’s plan whilst you are away from the business and prepare questions that you would like to ask with confidence, rather than with worry and doubt. Seek support from your employees – if you have other women in your workforce who have previously gone on maternity leave, you could ask for any tips and advice so that you feel more comfortable with any discussions that takes place. 

I hope to see more businesses adopt inclusive environments to remove any negativity and discrimination in the workforce when it comes to pregnancy and parental leave. Bringing new life into the world is bringing new generations into the workforce who will become our future leaders, so let’s embrace pregnancy in the workforce and support each other on every individual’s unique journey.