Spend 20 minutes, help change the world . . .
Over the course of my career, I reacted with initial surprise anytime I discovered a mom who was not taking advantage of the work/life benefits of our shared work environment. Sure, there were some who generally didn’t need them (often those who could afford luxuries such as a live-in nanny, stay-at-home partner, or concierge service) or couldn’t afford them (the financial implications of part-time work, for instance, were just too high). But there were others who turned down weeks of parental leave, never visited the lactation room, or dragged themselves into the office every day rather than take advantage of the telework policy.
With a growing awareness of the objectives and effort these work/life supports represented on behalf of employers, I began to wonder whether these supports pay off as intended, why more mothers don’t utilize them, and what might be preventing them from jumping in with both feet.
You may have your own answers to these questions. Even if all you have is your own set of experiences with the work/life supports available in your workplace, I want to hear from you. If you have been in the workplace while pregnant, mothering a child under age 18, or undergoing fertility treatments or seeking adoption, I hope you’ll take my online survey, conducted as part of my Master’s research. The results of this study will be used to develop a set of tools for employers seeking to support mothers in the workplace.
And the gritty details: The survey takes 15-20 minutes to complete. It asks about what work/life supports you have used and why, the impact of these programs, and perceptions of people who use work/life supports. All qualifying participants will be entered to win a $25 Amazon.com gift card. The survey will be open through November 23rd.
Let your voice be heard today, and help make work/life work for mom.
