The Untold Story of Postpartum at Work
Becoming a parent is one of the most profound identity shifts — yet most workplaces aren’t prepared to support the transition back.
We collected anonymous data and personal stories from women and HR leaders across the US and Europe to find out: the biggest gaps in postpartum support, what mothers say they need most from their employers, how HR leaders want to help — and what holds them back.
Ending with a step-by-step checklist of changes you can make in your organization today, our whitepaper, The Untold Story of Postpartum at Work, will make you think and also propel you into action to build a better system for the women and parents in your team.
what mothers want most
It’s not longer leave — but better employer support
Mixed Emotions
The return-to-work period is marked by mixed emotions for the majority of women, with positive professional identity gains often overshadowed by guilt and exhaustion.
Workplace Challenges
Workplace flexibility and career impact were the most frequently cited difficulties, often tied to limited remote work, lost responsibilities, or stalled career progression.
The ROI of Support
Only 10% of companies provide formal manager training for workplace transitions, yet they are eager to improve citing return-to-work coaching for women and manager training as their top priorities.
Don’t lose your top talent
Only 36% of mothers had a positive return to work and for most women, it took up to 2 years to feel back at their full professional capacity.