A few weeks into my first maternity leave, a former colleague and friend called to check in on me and my infant son, Jay. It had been a rough birth physically and happened in Manhattan, in the aftermath of Hurricane Sandy, which added to the stress. I welcomed her call, thankful to hear her familiar voice.
Maternity Leave Isn’t Enough to Retain New Moms
Paid time off is just a start.
November 30, 2020
Walter B. McKenzie/Getty Images
Summary.
Many U.S. organizations offer maternity and paternity leave. But paid time off after the birth of a child is not enough. Organizations need to create a broader ecosystem to support new parents and especially mothers. Questions to ask include: Who will take on the work of the person on leave? How will you assess her performance that year? What are her career aspirations now? What other policies do you have to support moms and dads? And how will you measure your progress and success?
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Attracting and Cultivating Talent Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Attracting and Cultivating Talent. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
Discover how to attract, hire, develop, and keep talented people who will grow and thrive throughout their employee journey.