Let's change our perception of motherhood in the workplace.

Why should we change our perception of maternity in the workplace?

For a pregnant woman, applying for a new position is one of the most stressful situations.

"No, I’m definitely not going to talk to them about it!" 

"I’m going to wear loose clothing, that way it won’t show!" 

"I’m really stressed, but I can’t tell them that!" 

The insidious fears of maternity

Embarrassment, even shame, lurks around the corner, and as if it’s not enough to prepare for a regular job interview, we also have to prepare to dodge any sensitive questions that might imply an ongoing or imminent pregnancy. And yet, how are a woman's intellectual capabilities undermined by her pregnancy? 

This same anxiety persists when we announce our pregnancy, when we talk about the length of our maternity leave, and our return to work. The fear of losing our job, the fear of being “behind” others.

Mothers, however, are often the most productive talents in a company, as they possess a sense of optimization. A European study on the subject revealed that women with children are slightly more productive than others(1).

Necessary changes

Let’s not waste time determining whose fault it is and rather think about what could be possible.

Let’s chat.

What if companies advocated for and valued the hiring of pregnant women?

What if organizations had a structure in place to support pregnant women with their needs?

What if companies offered re-onboarding for employees returning from their maternity “leave”?

What if companies provided a flexible schedule to accommodate parents?

You know the saying: An employee who feels supported in their personal development by their employer is a happy employee.

A happy employee is an employee who stays.

When about to become a parent, whether for the first or the fourth time, isn’t this one of the most monumental “personal” projects an employee can experience?

What if employers were allies in realizing this project?

What if hiring a pregnant woman ensured retention, health, and happiness of the employees?

What if a company’s success depended on a culture of inclusivity?

We, Judith and Alexandra, are two career-driven entrepreneurs and, respectively, a mother of two young children and soon to be a mom. Although society sometimes pushes us to think otherwise, we have taken and will take our maternity leaves with great pride. We have also discussed nausea, fatigue, doctor’s appointments, pelvic floor health, breastfeeding, and a myriad of other topics that might seem trivial, but believe us, they are not! We both know that we are very fortunate to have a progressive man by our side as a partner (and we say it often: Thomas, thank you for being who you are!). But our situation should not be an exception. It should be the norm, period.

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Article written by Alexandra (she/her) and Judith (she/her), B Corp Consultants