ON Mother’s Day this weekend we celebrate all that our mums do for us.
And it has been an especially tough year for many who have combined childcare and home-schooling with their normal jobs during lockdown.
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But the pandemic may see companies start to appreciate working mothers more, according to Jane Johnson, of careeringintomotherhood.com.
She says: “Remember the lengths your employees have gone to to remain productive during the pandemic?
“That is what working mums will give you every day of every year.
“The pandemic has seen employers gain a better understanding of what working parents and carers go through just to get to work each day.”
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Gillian Skendaj was an executive assistant in London for 21 years.
But after having her second child, she swapped to work as a virtual assistant.
The 44-year-old, from Weybridge, Surrey, said: “Even before Covid, I did this job from home.
“It means I can take the children to school and I have control over my day.
“I love the fact I am my own boss, in control of both my personal and working life.
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“I work long hours but it’s because I choose to take on the work. If you are willing to work and show dedication, you will be successful.”
Jane adds: “Employers need cultural change and employees need to be more creative generally around flexible working.”
Here are Jane’s top tips for mums and employers . . .
FOR MUMS:
- Be open to different working arrangements — don’t only apply for part-time jobs.
- Don’t feel limited by job titles. Think about tasks you do — these are skills an employer will pay for.
- Write down your deal-breakers, like if you can’t work school holidays. You will then have a crystal-clear view of the jobs you can apply for.
FOR EMPLOYERS:
- Offering flexi work is a really low-cost way of attracting talent that may go elsewhere.
- Nothing is forever. After kids go to school, a mum will have more time to give back to her career.
- People who work fewer hours can often be more efficient with their time.
- For more information see careeringintomotherhood.com.
Mac’s flying high
MCDONALD’S, TeachFirst, PwC and Sky Betting & Gaming are among the nation’s top firms for working mums.
The WorkingMums.co.uk awards crowned the fast food giant the best employer overall.
It also won the gong for best mental health support. Gillian Nissim, founder of WM People, which runs the awards, said: “Many employers have demonstrated a commitment to embedding diversity and inclusion and to ensuring the wellbeing of their people.”
See the full list of winners at workingmums.co.uk.
Lab fab for Sam
THE ground-breaking Women’s Work Lab is helping hundreds of mums on Universal Credit to boost their skills and find work.
The Bristol-based scheme, set up in 2019 by Camilla Rigby and Rachel Mostyn, combines training that fits around the school run with work placements.
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Camilla said: “Our mums face barriers to work. We specialise in unlocking their potential.”
Single mum Samantha Cuffy, 44, of Bristol, landed her first job in 11 years with the scheme.
She said: “The Women’s Work Lab gave me the drive I needed.”
See womensworklab.co.uk.
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Raising the bar with ma
MUM’S the word for Karin Seymour.
The mother-of-two is News UK’s Client Strategy Director and also founded the firm’s parenting and carers network News For Parents.
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She said: “Mums are in charge of the nation’s household budgets so whatever your company does or makes, having mums on the workforce gives you valuable insight into your customers. They also make outstanding employees.”
Here Karin shares her reasons why firms should hire working mums.
- !Multitasking is something mums have to do all day, every day at home. Doing it at work is simply second nature.
- Mums make decisions quickly. There’s no time to waste so they decide and move on to the next task.
- They are highly productive, because often they have a finite amount of time to achieve their work.
- Mums are incredibly loyal to a supportive employer. They will also be able to recommend the company within their networks, saving on recruitment costs.
- They can have great empathy, and an ability to bring teams together. the company within their networks, saving on recruitment costs.
Michelle Dewberry explains why Sunemployment is so important to her and how it can help you find work
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