In Mexico, 7 out of 10 women in the labor field are working mothers, according to data from the National Institute of Statistics and Geography (INEGI). This is a significant percentage of the workforce; However, in the absence of conciliation and occupational mental health care programs, many of them could present high levels of stress, anxiety or burnoutwhich impacts their professional development and the growth of companies.
These effects are not derived from maternity itself, but from the lack of social and working conditions to exercise it.
In Mexico, positive steps have been taken that allow them to reconcile their professional life with motherhood; for example, more flexible hours, paternity leave, lactation centers at work, etc.
However, there are still significant challenges, especially with regard to care and prevention of psychosocial risks at work, both for women with children and for those who do not. It is essential that policies and measures continue to be implemented that promote equity and the protection of the labor rights of all people.
Companies with strategies for working mothers
In the country, more and more companies incorporate occupational mental health programs as well as care campaigns for their collaborators, since they have obtained benefits such as improved productivity, greater achievement of goals, more proactive collaborators, attraction and retention of key talent, greater willingness and effectiveness in training programs, among others.
UNICEF reports that these programs that promote closeness and childcare for working mothers have various impacts, including:
- Stress and anxiety levels improve in working mothers
- By providing conditions that increase the probability of breastfeeding, improvements are seen in the health and cognitive development of children.
- Reduces the chances of postpartum depression
- Decrease in infant mortality and increase in immunization rates
- Support gender equality at work
On the other hand, mothers develop various skills that have great potential in the workplace. For example: negotiation skills, teamwork, leadership, empathy, time management, to name a few.
In general, taking care of the mental health of employees multiplies the benefits for everyone. Companies are always looking for the best talent and can have in their ranks, but without the right conditions, employees cannot give their best and it is the companies’ job to ensure that they have these conditions.
Recommendations for your business to take care of your working moms
- Promote flexible hours
- Provide maternity and paternity leave
- Promote the creation of spaces such as nurseries
- Prepare optimal, hygienic and safe spaces for breastfeeding
- Create information campaigns on the importance of balancing personal and work life
- Implement programs for the prevention and care of psychosocial risks in the workplace
- Provide access to occupational mental health specialists
- Carry out periodic evaluations to detect potential psychosocial risks