Why Is Hiring Working Moms Good for Business?

According to the US Department of Labor, the labor force comprises 74.6 million women, with 47% of the workers being women, and more than 39% of them in jobs where they make up more than three-quarters of the total workforce. Nearly 10 million businesses are owned by women, which accounts for $1.4 trillion in receipts.  

While mothers have been major contributors to their children’s skills, abilities, and knowledge, it is now time to consider hiring them for your business. Several skills that mothers tend to cultivate during parenting can also translate into efficient tools in the workplace. And since these skills are mostly overlooked, companies often miss out on the opportunity to hire some of the best employees available. Therefore, in this article, we will try to analyze some of the reasons why hiring working moms can be good for your business.

There is Nothing Like ‘Mommy Brain’

There are several misconceptions surrounding working mothers. For example, one of the stigmas speaks of new mothers experiencing certain cognitive changes that tend to make them less focused and sharp. However, the truth is that motherhood often results in a better brain. In fact, being a mother enables you to have better focus while juggling the challenges of everyday life.

In the US, 86% of women become mothers by age 44. And since women constitute half of the population, there is no reason to ignore this large segment of diverse talent. Research also shows that those women who work with moms as CEOs or managers find greater job satisfaction, and better team collaboration, and are more likely to stay in their company. These are important factors that can play a big role in the success of your business, especially during uncertain times. 

Can Lead to a More Positive Employee Experience

Mothers in the workplace possess several tools that make them great managers. Strong communication, multitasking skills, approachability, empathy, leadership, the ability to inspire, humility, and negotiation skills are a few of them. The skills parents use in caregiving can also go a long way in cultivating business talent. Hence, hiring working mothers can help shape and boost the morale of an entire organization and lead to a more positive employee experience.

Heightened Productivity

Since multitasking is part and parcel of every working mother’s life, they also tend to bring that to their workplace, causing a boost to overall workplace productivity. From juggling multiple deadlines to campaigns to budgets to supporting her team, she can get it all done in an orderly manner. Additionally, since these values tend to have a trickle-down effect, working mothers can inspire their teams to do the same.

This also helps in building an organization that respects work life-integration. Nearly half of the workforce today consists of millennials, and more than 80% of them take their work-life balance very seriously. Therefore, it is not something that companies should ignore.

Greater Inclusivity at the Workplace

Despite diversity, equity, and inclusion in the workplace being at the forefront of the cultural conversation, women are still underrepresented at nearly every level. Therefore, businesses need to consider creating a diverse and inclusive workplace to show their commitment to bringing change, and hiring talented working mothers can be the first positive step towards it. According to research, hiring them can add unique perspectives, voices, and personalities along with new styles of working and leading. In fact, women with mom colleagues are 19% more likely to report that their organizations prioritize diversity and inclusion efforts.

Increase In Retention

Another popular myth regarding working moms is that they are less likely to commit to their rules. However, working mothers and parents are more interested in their roles, which helps provide stability and support along with better opportunities to grow within the company. Research shows that compared to non-parents, parents are more likely to consider their work ‘more than just a job’. And since retention is an important aspect of your workforce strategy, you need not look any further than working moms if you want to build a lasting company.

Several studies have also found that when employees find equal opportunities to grow, they are satisfied with their careers and plan on sticking with their companies for a long. Hence, if you can create a supportive workplace for working moms, they will not only come and stay but also recommend their colleagues to stay.

As we can see from the numbers, mothers in the workplace are a significant asset for any team. If retained and promoted, they can become influential leaders who can bring their unique skills, strengths, and talent to your organization. Therefore, during the era of a talent drain and resignations, companies must shift their focus to creating a more diverse and inclusive workplace, and hiring working moms can be the first step.