BUSINESS INSIGHTS
For example , many mothers suffer from guilt for being unable to commit their entire potential to either side of their life – professional or personal – which can lead to a hesitance that undermines their progress . But workplaces still harbour misplaced biases against pregnant women and mothers , suggesting managers have similar doubts about the ability of an employee to commit to a role , given her outside obligations , as she herself is having .
Thankfully , I have managed to navigate the bumpy landscape of being a wife and a mother to four children , while being an executive at some of the world ’ s largest tech companies . While there is no silver bullet or formal roadmap , it is my hope that mothers in the region who are struggling with these issues can find some personal analogue in my experiences that can help them strike their own balance . against them . Almost as a matter of tradition , part-time workers miss out on promotion and salary increases , as they are viewed as not being able to keep up with the needs of the business . Companies will look to full-time employees – who in most workplaces tend to be men – to undertake the tasks and projects that part-time workers cannot .
So rather than asking to come back part-time , I suggest that you ask instead for flexibility . The widespread acceptance of remote work means that women – pregnant , with children or without – can blend into new corporate cultures where everyone , regardless of home circumstances , is judged on output rather than input .
2 . Accept that there are cycles in life
MANY MOTHERS SUFFER FROM GUILT FOR BEING UNABLE TO COMMIT THEIR ENTIRE POTENTIAL TO EITHER SIDE OF THEIR LIFE .
1 . Carefully plan your return to work
Many women return to part-time work after having children , and while this is completely understandable , this can work
New mothers and those with younger children will find that their sons and daughters need a lot of attention , not just when they are sick , but as a matter of course . As a consequence , it might mean having to pass on certain opportunities at
Cathy Mauzaize , Vice President , EMEA South , ServiceNow www . intelligentcxo . com
67