The most common challenges mums face at work

THE MOTHER OF ALL JOBS: NEW RESEARCH FROM MALTESERS® REVEALS THE CHALLENGES MUMS FACE IN THE WORKPLACE   

• A new white paper from MALTESERS shines a light on the difficulties faced by mums in the workplace, revealing that many of the burdens of combining work and home life still fall on working mums. 
• Research has revealed that 1 in 4 mums in the UK feel less valued as an employee in the workplace since becoming a mum, and 30 per cent don’t feel understood by others in the workplace.

   
• MALTESERS has partnered with Peanut App to spark conversations between working mums, helping them navigate the highs and lows, and spotlighting the ways in which those around them can step up to support.   
• The news follows MALTESERS £500k donation to long standing partner, Comic Relief, earlier this year to work towards their shared vision of a future where women no longer face injustice. Together, both organisations are looking to lighten the load for working mums and help women thrive.   

  A new white paper launched by MALTESERS explores the difficulties and challenges mums face in the workplace, revealing that despite societal changes designed to make things more equal, many of the burdens of combining work and home life can still fall on working mums.    

Commissioned by MALTESERS, a survey of over 2,000 working parents in the UK, who have at least one child aged five or younger, found that 55 per cent of UK mums say they need more help from employers and colleagues to be the working mum they want to be.    

In addition to finding affordable and appropriate childcare, maintaining relationships, and coping with sleepless nights, working mums are often pulled in all directions and can feel that they are letting everyone down. In fact, 79 per cent of mums in the UK feel guilty for not spending enough time with their children, whilst over half (56 per cent) also feel guilty about not working enough.    

The study also revealed that 24 per cent of mums in the UK feel less valued as an employee in the workplace since becoming a mum, and 30 per cent don’t feel understood by others in the workplace.    

The findings come as MALTESERS partners with Peanut App, the fastest-growing online community to connect women throughout all stages of motherhood. Peanut has long been a community where mothers have felt safe discussing issues related to work and motherhood. That’s why MALTESERS and Peanut are launching a new content hub ‘Work & Motherhood’ which provides actionable tips, tools, and real-life advice from real mothers. Women who are looking to ask their own questions and be vulnerable in a safe space can join the in-app ‘Work & Motherhood’ group on Peanut powered by MALTESERS. Together, this group and content hub aims to fill the void in honest and open discussion about the challenges working mothers face and to spotlight the ways in which those around them can step up to support. The more we talk about our experiences, the less isolating they become.   

Speaking about the campaign and research, Michelle Kennedy, Founder and CEO, Peanut App said: “At Peanut, our mission has always been to improve women’s lives and provide better access to support when they need it most. Partnering with MALTESERS is an extension of this mission as we combine forces to provide better tools and support for mothers in the workplace.        

As a mother of two myself, I can safely say that balance is a myth! The reality is, it’s always a juggle. Sometimes I juggle well, sometimes not so well. The essence is in trying to move through the madness, and not beating myself up when I get something wrong or when I drop a ball. That guilt associated with ‘dropping the ball’ is something that we don’t always talk about openly, and that contributes to feelings of isolation and loneliness. Creating safe spaces like our in-app ‘Work & Motherhood’ group with MALTESERS is a step forward in ensuring that no mother feels alone in this struggle. We’re all human, we’re all doing our best, and that’s OK. “  

As part of its work in breaking down taboos and supporting working mums, MALTESERS has launched a brand-new social and advertising campaign #MotherLover, which aims to celebrate the village around mums, while also providing suggestions, advice, and spaces to these groups to best support mothers in the workplace. For the campaign, 16 million limited edition MALTESERS packs will be on sale across all major food retailers which will carry messaging from real mums, bringing to life ways to lighten the load. The packs also contain a QR code that leads to a site which contains information and support advice for working mums.   

Leah Dyckes, Brand Director, MALTESERS said: “It’s hard for working mums; society tells them they can ‘have it all’, but the reality is often very different. There are so many challenges, and it can be a real struggle to make it work – and too often the expectations and structures at work and home aren’t changing quickly enough. Through our #MotherLover campaign and meaningful partnership with Peanut which directly speaks and creates spaces for mums every day, we can help shift this dynamic by asking everyone around women to step up, to show empathy, and do what they can as allies to lighten their load.”  

Looking outside of the workplace, MALTESERS research also found that over a third (43 per cent) of UK mums say that their family don’t or only partly understand their reality as a working mum, and half (51 per cent) of mums in the UK say that their friends don’t or only partly understand.   

It’s clear that there is a vital job to be done in the UK for everyone to become a MotherLover and help lighten the load for working mums. The MALTESERS white paper includes suggestions to the groups that can best offer the support that working mums – and all parents – need: workplace decision makers, colleagues, friends and family, dads and partners and, finally, mums themselves.  

The new research released today is part of MALTESERS wider commitment to working towards a vision of a future where women no longer face injustice, and raising money to fund vital work in this space with long standing partner Comic Relief.  

One of the brilliant organisations funded to help women thrive is Women’s Lives Leeds, who run the Women Friendly Leeds movement working to empower women to lead safer, healthier, equal and more fulfilled lives. https://womenfriendlyleeds.org  

Comic Relief is a registered charity for more info please visit www.maltesers.co.uk/lighten-the-load   

Join the conversation with #MotherLover