- Nick Elvin
The majority of first-time mothers who had been working in junior positions before going on maternity leave say they received the bare minimum of support from their employer before leaving to have their baby, according to new research by AXA PPP healthcare and Netmums.
In a poll of new mums, 59% of those who had been working in entry level positions said that their employer hadn’t provided any support beyond what was legally required in the run up to their maternity leave. But, for new mums who had been working in senior positions, that figure dropped to 21%.
The provisions made by employers to support new mums differed dramatically depending on seniority. While 23% of entry-level employees were offered ‘keeping in touch days’ during their maternity leave, this number doubled for management level staff (46%) and senior executives (54%). Only 19% of entry-level workers were given advice about going on maternity leave compared with 30% of management-level employees.
Following the birth of their babies, entry-level workers were also more stressed, with 45% saying they had been feeling stressed since their baby’s arrival compared with 23% of senior executives who said they felt this way.
Perinatal mental illnesses are a major public health issue; according to a recently published report commissioned by Maternal Mental Health Alliance, between 10% and 20% of women develop a mental illness during pregnancy or within the first year after having a baby.
“These illnesses can have a devastating impact on women and their families if left untreated,” said Dr Mark Winwood, director of psychological services for AXA PPP healthcare.
“The perceived disparity in the support employers offer to first time mums before they go on maternity leave is alarming – particularly when you consider the impact this may have on the individual’s mental health. Indeed, this ‘ambivalence of worth’ by employers could be contributing to significant self-esteem issues for some mums-to-be.
“Employers would be wise to ensure they support all of their employees equally at this transformative time in their lives and careers. They should also remember their legal duty of care to ensure that they conduct an appropriate and regular risk assessment process for all employees who notify them of their pregnancy to ensure that they are offered suitable support and workplace adjustments to help them remain safe at work – irrespective of their position within the organisation.
“Helping employees to prepare for their maternity leave, and supporting them during their time away from work, can help them feel more positive about coming back to work once they are ready. For example, offering ‘keeping in touch’ days during maternity leave can help to ensure that new mums still feel part of the working community, encouraging them to return to work, bringing their wide-ranging skills with them.”