From baby to bias: The hidden struggles of moms returning to work

Returning to work after maternity leave should be a transition, not a battle — but for many women, it’s anything but smooth. In this episode of Mom’s at Work, we explore the hidden struggles of working mothers re-entering the workplace, especially in hostile or unsupportive environments. From being sidelined or laid off to facing subtle (and not-so-subtle) biases, many mothers find that their roles have changed — not because of their abilities, but because of how they’re perceived once they become mothers. And because too many workplaces still don’t commit enough to figuring out how best to support them when they return. We speak with growth marketer Kendra Pennington, on how the judgment she felt at work since becoming a mother has led to “employment-inflicted trauma” that she carries with her today. And we speak with Bodacious founder Zoe Scaman on how she unearthed hundreds of other mothers’ stories about being squeezed out of their companies, and the true cost of that to businesses. And we speak with both Kendra and sociologist and professor Jessica Calarco on the “supermom myth” and why some feel that label has become toxic in a period of disillusionment where many women feel “having it all” simply means “doing it all.” We’re also joined by Amanda Carlson-Phillips, chief performance innovation officer at human performance and wellness company Exos, about the importance of having a “pro-recovery culture.” And Maven Clinic’s Will Porteous gives us valuable insights into the parent burnout crisis and why employer support drops off at the most critical point in parent’s journeys.