Internationally renowned work-life research

1. Internationally renowned work-life research Helping more than 1000 families each month 30 plus years experience supporting organisations Trusted advisor to successive governments www.workingfamilies.org.uk

2. From pregnancy to successful working mother • Does becoming a mother still impact your career? • Why business should be worried • How to manage a smooth transition to parent hood • Where to get help Available 25th Sept 2011 www.workingfamilies.org.uk Available 1st Dec 2011

3. “Clearly there is One factor that above all leads to women’s inequality in the labour market –becoming mothers”The Equalities review 2007 www.workingfamilies.org.uk

4. The dual income family is now the norm across the world from in countries as different as China to Canada www.workingfamilies.org.uk

5. Why bother with women? • Increase performanceOrganisations with 3 or more female board members outperform their competitors • Increase innovationTeams of 50/50 men and women are more innovative than male dominated teams • Understand the consumerWomen are the key decision makers, accounting for up to 85% of all goods and services bought www.workingfamilies.org.uk

6. Why bother with women? www.workingfamilies.org.uk

7. Why bother with women? CASE STUDY ORGANISATION Cost £2.5million In 3 years www.workingfamilies.org.uk

8. Why bother with women? When women are taken seriously at work Men are taken seriously at home The results is better balance and well-being for all……. Families are better able to manage parental and caring responsibilities Organisations are more productive and more competitive www.workingfamilies.org.uk

9. Why bother with women?

10. Making a smooth transition • Relationship with manager • Preparation (prior to and) during pregnancy • Understanding own values • Phased return • Getting support www.workingfamilies.org.uk

11. Relationship with manager • Professional boundaries • Maternal pre-occupation • Unconscious bias • Manager • Own • colleagues www.workingfamilies.org.uk

12. Preparation during pregnancy • Manage it like a project • Understand your own and your partners career and parental aspirations • Understand you partner’s and your legal rights and organisation’s policies • Financial planning • Career stakeholder analysis and communications plan….. Including when and how to tell your manager • Job analysis to identify potential options for flexibility (will also form the basis of a handover plan) • Performance review • Handover plan • Keep in touch plan • Back to work plan www.workingfamilies.org.uk

13. Phase return • Bedding in • Childcare • Backup support • Basic logistics eg ids, passes, equipment • Shared responsibilities at home • New working times / location / hours (if applicable) • Smooth the emotional journey • Use KIT days www.workingfamilies.org.uk

14. Getting support • Your partner • Your family • Your neighbours and friends • At least 2 back-ups • Possibly a coach • Working Families 0800 0130313 for support to negotiate a mutual agreement and advise on benefits, tax and rights • Other sources of support include the Childcare Trust, Gingerbread, Tommies and the NCT www.workingfamilies.org.uk

15. Liz Morris 07896 124862 Liz.Morris@WorkingFamilies.org.uk www.workingfamilies.org.uk