Paid Parental Leave

DUH. But, yes it is 2025 and the United States still doesn’t offer paid parental leave.

Covering both mothers and fathers to allow for proper bonding with their children, leading to reduced stress and improved focus when returning to work. Countries with strong parental leave policies see higher workplace satisfaction and increased long-term career commitment among employees.

Additionally, mothers who benefit from longer paid maternity leave are more likely to exclusively breastfeed their child for longer. Both the American Academy of Pediatrics and the World Health Organization recommend that a child should be exclusively breastfeed until six months of age. Breastfeeding has many advantages, including fostering the child’s psychosocial development, improving mother-infant bonding, and reducing the risk of early infection and disease. These factors contribute to improved maternal well-being and, ultimately, workplace productivity.

Flexible Work Arrangements

Options like adjustable working hours, compressed work weeks, and remote work empower employees to balance their professional and personal responsibilities effectively. A report from the International Labour Organization found that flexible work arrangements enhance productivity by promoting a healthy work-life balance (Source 4).

Support for Mothers

Ensuring job security cannot be emphasized enough.  Because the numbers don’t lie: “75% of women have a negative or possibly discriminatory experience at work during pregnancy, maternity leave, or on their return from maternity leave” (Source 7).

How do you keep these women? By offering them a comprehensive postpartum wellness program: “84% of working mothers agree that expanded pregnancy, postpartum, and return-to-work support would make them more likely to stay at their company” (Source 8).

Sounds great, but I can’t put that in place! We’ve got your covered, our corporate postpartum wellness program also includes resources to train your managers because supporting new moms starts with strong leaders.

Workplace accommodations for breastfeeding mothers are critical. Breastfeeding has many positive impacts on women’s health and to the overall wellbeing of the child. For physical benefits, the act in itself of breastfeeding promotes feelings of relaxation, bonding and emotional well-being via the hormone oxytocin. For mental health, breastfeeding mothers are less at risk for postpartum depression. It just makes sense that productivity increases when workplaces make accommodations that promote breastfeeding, because women have less stress in relation to balancing breastfeeding and employment.

Still have questions about breastfeeding? Check out our Breastfeeding FAQ.

Access to Quality Childcare

Supporting employees with childcare solutions can significantly reduce absenteeism and improve overall job performance. Caregivers who have access to reliable childcare have lower levels of stress, anxiety and work-family conflict as compared to those who do not have secure arrangements. 

Families with reliable childcare are more able to balance their work and family responsibilities and are therefore at less risk of burnout. Lastly, when families are able to maintain stable employment and financial security, caregiver and child mental health and well-being flourish, positively impacting workplace productivity (Source 5).

Child Benefits and Social Support Systems

Encouraging partnerships between public and private sectors to provide financial assistance and social services, ensuring families have the stability needed for a balanced work-life experience. Countries with robust child benefit programs tend to experience lower employee stress levels and in turn, higher workplace productivity. 

Redefine Success on Your Own Terms

Rather than measuring yourself against societal expectations, define what success looks like for you as both a mother and a professional. Think about what you value and what you find fulfilling. Use this to build a vision of success that matches. When women feel in control of their personal and professional goals, they tend to be more productive and satisfied.

Read more: How to Be a Better Mother: The Power of Setting Goals and Tasks

Surround Yourself with People You Admire

Lean on your people for guidance and encouragement. We are often part of friend groups or communities as a result of location or history, but actively seek out new groups where you share a hobby, a sport, or a way of life. These people might be more likely to have a lifestyle and value system that is aligned with yours. These are the people who you want in your corner for encouragement. Remember, you shouldn’t take advice from anyone you don’t respect, and surrounding yourself with supportive individuals can strengthen your sense of self-efficacy.

Looking for a community? Check out The Circle for an international group of supportive and ambitious parents. 

Stop Second-Guessing Yourself

People who take action in uncertain situations gain confidence faster than those who hold back. Makes sense. But, we are often too busy overthinking the “what if?” that we don’t open our mouth or don’t dare to move or try. 

Yet, it is when we begin this habit of second-guessing that we doubt our own judgement. Overthinking often leads to self-doubt and reduced productivity. If you start to take action you can shift the pattern (Source 6). 

What if you could shift your mindset by repeating the mantra, “I am the best mother for my baby,” the next time you question yourself. Or better yet, every time you look in the mirror. 

Find some other mantras that feel good to you; “I am enough”, “I am present, not perfect”, “I have been here before and I have succeeded”, or “I am calm and focused.” Write some down on a sticky note at your desk or on your fridge. Make another one your phone wallpaper. Remind yourself of your worth and ability. 

Develop a Resilient Mindset

Adopting a growth-oriented perspective helps navigate challenges with adaptability and perseverance. Take negative feedback or failure as an opportunity for growth. Give people the benefit of the doubt and try to stay positive. Optimism does indeed reduce the impact of stress on the mind and body, and stress is the enemy of productivity. 

Work on getting yourself out of negative thought cycles, perhaps by using a mantra or through empathy. Imagine that the person who just cut you off in traffic is racing to get someone to the hospital or that the waiter who was rude to you has just left their friend’s funeral. 

Prioritize Self-Care and Work-Life Balance

Mental well-being and physical well-being are intertwined with stress, guilt and focus. Taking time for rest, exercise, and mental health breaks improves focus and reduces stress.

We can help you take those 5 minutes of self-care each day. Set yourself up for success with our postpartum courses or our postnatal workout plans. 

It is no surprise that “a mother’s experience of being unhappy [at work] or forced to leave her child at home appears to be the most significant factor affecting her experience of herself as a working parent and her feelings of guilt” (Source 1). This underscores the need for legislation and corporate policies that support women during the transition into motherhood without negatively impacting their career trajectory and productivity.