The Happiness Project
Lindsey Fish, founder and chief executive officer of Mum’s Enterprise Ltd, reveals the aim is to help change the lives of parents across the UK for the better, forever
F lexible work, gender equality, the gender pay gap and the mum economy are making headlines almost every day, but what is really missing from all of these reports and comments is a real focus on a solution. There are so many obstacles that mothers have to face when returning to the workplace; and navigating the fine line between career woman and working mum can be really challenging at times. Our report, which was compiled using the independent feedback of over 1,000 mums across the UK, highlights the vast number of highly qualified women struggling to strike a balance between work and family life. Of the women surveyed, 74% have over eleven years’ professional experience and 62% of them left a position of management level or higher to have children. Though it’s more than fair to say that these women have earned their stripes in their chosen profession, the saddening reality is that: ● 24% of these women have had flexible working requests denied ● 18% have been forced to return back to work in a different role ● 15% have been passed over for a promotion ● 8% have been made redundant whilst on maternity leave, and ● 5% have even returned to a role which was lower paid to the one they left previously. It comes as no surprise that the uncertainty of returning to work and the changes that it will bring affect the health
and wellbeing of a mother whilst on maternity leave. Of the women surveyed: ● 60% confirmed that they were happy with their working arrangements whilst on maternity leave, but when deciding what to do after their leave this reduced to 24% ● 81% confirmed that they wanted to make a change whilst on maternity leave. These changes included: finding more flexible work (28%); returning to their old employer but on a part-time basis (28%); and returning to their old employer but on a flexible basis (24%). Having said this, only 42% of those who wanted to make a change actually did and of the other 58% who didn’t three quarters admitted to being even unhappier than they were before. ...pressure-selling techniques, perhaps including warnings that it’s a time-limited offer Key reasons identified by women behind why they were unable to make these changes were: ● lack of confidence ● lack of money ● fear ● childcare expenses ● no family to help with child care, and ● lack of time. These highlight that things desperately need to change, and that we need to do
more to support women across the UK to find other flexible working alternatives. But what we really wanted to discover was what women wish for to be happier in work as a mum and what happiness really means to them. And the good news is much of what we need is within reach: flexible work, money, affordable childcare and help at home were the top four things mums wish for. By 2020, Mums Enterprise Ltd intends to prove that it has had a positive impact on the UK economy by helping more women find and return to work, increased the number of female start-ups and boosted job creation through growing female-led businesses. And through facilitating the growing mum economy, flexible work and gender equality movement, via both our live events and soon to launch digital hub, we truly believe we can be part of the solution to making UK mums happier in work, in business and at home. To request your free copy of the full report Career woman to working mum visit www.mumsenterprise.events/ happiness. o
| Professional in Payroll, Pensions and Reward | October 2018 | Issue 44 52
Made with FlippingBook - Online magazine maker