Abby Eckel’s Post

“Working mothers are the most educated cohort in today’s workforce. It is imperative for companies and for our economy that we figure out how to keep educated women working in the workforce once they enter motherhood. Notably, this year’s State of Motherhood survey reveals that nearly 50% of today’s working mothers are the primary breadwinner in their family earning 50% or more of their household income. Without addressing issues like the motherhood penalty, affordable childcare, parental leave, and creating flexible work options that enable working mothers to integrate their work and mothering responsibilities, The Great Resignation will undoubtedly continue, which will drive down the competitiveness of the United States. “

During the pandemic, a staggering 13.5 million women lost their jobs, highlighting a widespread issue. Even in remote work, women are balancing caregiving and homemaking alongside their jobs. Author Reshma Saujani emphasizes ongoing efforts for change, advocating for expanded childcare options and paid leave provisions to bridge the gap. Key Takeaways: -Banning childcare duties during remote work isn't a fix. -Forward-thinking businesses can help by subsidizing childcare and offering flexibility. Let's build a fairer, more inclusive workforce together. #GenderEquality #EmpowerWomen #WorkforceDiversity

🚨 28 years old, earning £60k, but can’t afford kids – is this the new reality for women? 🚨 Lottie Moore’s story strikes a chord with many women. Despite a great career and a £60k salary, she feels that starting a family is entirely out of reach. 🌱 With sky-high living costs, unaffordable childcare, and the instability of renting, even financially “successful” women are struggling to take the next step toward motherhood. Her question is clear: Why are women being priced out of parenthood? 💭 At Investing in Women, we believe it’s time to prioritise solutions for women. 💼 By promoting flexible work options, supporting remote working, and creating a proper work-life balance, companies can empower women to thrive in their careers and as mothers. 👶 But right now, that flexibility isn’t widely available. To reverse the falling birth rate and make motherhood a realistic choice, we need major changes: affordable childcare, flexible working, and real investment in mothers. 👩💻👨👩👧👦 What do you think? Is enough being done to make family life possible for women today? 💬 #MotherhoodCrisis #InvestInWomen #FlexibleWork #WorkLifeBalance #SupportFamilies #AffordableChildcare #FertilityCrisis #RemoteWork 🌍

The stats tell a story many women know all too well: ▪️ 83% of single-parent families are led by mothers. ▪️ Women spend over 9 hours more per week on unpaid work and care compared to men. ▪️ Female parents dedicate 1 hour and 15 minutes more daily to unpaid childcare than male parents. ▪️ 43.3% of women work part-time compared to 19.5% of men, with 35.7% of women citing childcare as the primary reason they can’t work or work more hours (compared to just 7.3% of men). ▪️ And while 86% of employer-funded paid primary carers leave is taken by women, only 14% is taken by men. These figures highlight the disproportionate load women carry when balancing work and family responsibilities - and how this affects their career progression, leadership opportunities, and earning potential. At The Facilities Forum, we’re committed to addressing these inequalities. By fostering conversations, sharing solutions, and advocating for change, we aim to support women in managing their dual roles. It’s time to challenge these norms and create a future where caregiving responsibilities are shared, and opportunities are equally accessible to everyone. What steps do you think organisations can take to make this happen? Share your thoughts below! 👇 #WomenInLeadership #WorkLifeBalance #FacilitiesForum #DiversityAndInclusion #BreakingBarriers

We need to confront a critical issue that affects countless working mothers -the stigma surrounding getting help. - Society often expects women, especially those in leadership roles, to handle everything on their own, from careers to child-rearing. - The truth is, many do not, and that’s okay. - A recent study by Pew Research found that 63% of working mothers feel judged for needing help. - Yet, 77% of women report relying on support systems like family, childcare, or paid help. - The irony is stark - those who manage to "do it all" rarely do it alone, but they feel compelled to conceal the assistance they receive. - This secrecy does a disservice to everyone, especially those who might not have access to the same support systems. - It perpetuates unrealistic expectations and isolates mothers who are struggling. - When successful women pretend they’ve achieved everything single-handedly, it sends a damaging message: if you're struggling, you must be failing. - It's time to break this cycle. We should celebrate the support we receive, be it from spouses, family, friends, or professional services. - By doing so, we create an environment where seeking help is not just accepted but encouraged. - This shift is crucial not just for our own mental health but for setting a realistic standard for the next generation of working mothers. - Remember, it’s not about doing it all alone - it’s about doing it well with the help you need. 📌 Let’s support each other, be transparent about our challenges, and collectively work towards a culture where asking for help is seen as a strength, not a weakness. Shikha Trivedi Singh #worklifebalance #workingmothers #hrconsultancy #womenempowerment #support

The burden of care work falls overwhelmingly on women... Yet ...did you know fathers take less than half of their entitled parental leave? 🤯 According to 2023 State of America's Fathers report from Equimundo: Center for Masculinities and Social Justice: - Normative pressures and outdated societal expectations play a significant role in fathers' reluctance to take full leave entitlements. - Even when employers support equal leave uptake, men feel compelled to prioritize work over family. - Mothers also face similar pressures, with only one in three taking their full leave entitlement. - There's an urgent need to expand leave and create a supportive environment for all caregivers. In short: 1) the current caregiving paradigm benefits no one. - Working mothers are juggling impossible commitments - Dads are missing out on crucial bonding time with their kids 2) Let's normalize a genderless culture of care: - Support fathers in taking their entitled parental leave. - Advocate for workplace policies that prioritize family time. - Challenge outdated gender stereotypes. - Spread awareness about the importance of parental involvement. - Engage in conversations and initiatives that promote equity in caregiving. 📢 Question: How can we collectively support fathers in taking their full parental leave entitlements?

The impact of the "motherhood penalty" varies significantly both among nations and within individual countries. 🌍 In 2024, many women still find it tough to balance a career and being a parent. Worldwide, 95% of men aged 25 to 54 have jobs, while only 52% of women do. This is due to factors like unequal access to education, discrimination at work, and, notably, the predominant challenge of childcare, especially in richer societies. To tackle this problem, we need to use various approaches. ➡ Studies reveal that implementing flexible working arrangements has elevated the participation of mothers in the workforce. To enhance these efforts, additional policies, such as affordable childcare options and paid parental leave, would be instrumental. Research also tells us that countries closing the employment gap between men and women enjoy significant economic benefits. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/gJ3uapQq #genderequality #womenempowerment #motherhoodpenalty 

"The challenge of balancing career progression and parenthood weighs heavily on women. In a survey Catalyst fielded last year, 67% of women were concerned that their childcare responsibilities would negatively affect their career.” - Erin Souza-Rezendes(Vice President of Global Communications at Catalyst Inc.) Balancing caregiving and professional growth can seem like an impossible task for #Women, who continue to bear an outsized burden when it comes to caregiving. In a recent Forbes article, Christine Michel Carter spotlights benefits of investing in K-12 education for businesses and for working mothers as they juggle care responsibilities and career advancement. With the growing #Childcare crisis, working moms need systemic change both through public and private policy, and employers have a key role to play. Focusing on evidence-based strategies that create inclusive environments and support working parents results in a win-win. To read the Forbes article, visit: ⬇️ https://ow.ly/stjY50Uax5p ForbesWomen

Did you know that in couple families where the youngest child is between 0-4 years old, 90.6% of male partners are employed, compared to just 69.5% of female partners, according to the Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS) (2023). This stark gap reflects the persistent gender stereotypes around caregiving and work. Despite progress, women continue to bear the brunt of childcare responsibilities, often at the cost of their careers. The expectation for mothers to reduce work hours or pause their careers while fathers continue full-time is still prevalent in many families. This isn’t just a personal issue—it’s a workplace and societal challenge that plays a significant role in the gender leadership and pay gap. When women take a step back from their careers during the early years of parenting, it often sets off a ripple effect: fewer opportunities for advancement, reduced earnings over time, and underrepresentation in leadership roles. Perhaps it's time we ask ourselves: How different would our workplaces look if caregiving responsibilities were shared more equally? And how much talent, creativity, and leadership potential are we missing out on by maintaining the status quo? #WomenImpactingWomen #GenderEquality #WorkingParents #ParentalLeave #LeadershipGap #WorkplaceInclusion

Companies need to accept more mothers into the workplace. The motherhood penalty is still one of the biggest barriers for women to enter or level their careers, as statistics highlight around 54,000 mothers every year are pushed out of work because of inflexibility, childcare costs and maternity discrimination 👉 https://lnkd.in/d2XwVZJW. I've worked in three different companies throughout my career and all three of my reporting managers are women - specifically full-time mothers while also being an extraordinary manager. I have learned and observed how skilful they are with their expertise and juggling responsibility as a mother with great family responsibility at the same time. While they are decisive and adept with work, they are compassionate and patient in leading a team -- to nurture the team understandingly with a great sense of empathy. When I become a manager one day, I aspire to be a great manager like they always inspire me. As part of the #InspiringInclusion movement this International Women's Day, I would like to encourage us to acknowledge and support more mothers entering/re-entering the workforce. #womenempowerment #diversity