A Promising Start // Realities of Mums In Tech
86% of Mums in Tech felt like their employers were supportive when they received the news of their pregnancy
At what could be a particularly anxiety-inducing moment, how a manager responds to a pregnancy announcement sets the tone for the whole of someone’s pregnancy journey.
Overall, the results were positive. Almost the majority of respondents said they had a ‘very supportive’ experience, with over 8 in 10 saying their response was at least somewhat supportive.
What did that support look like?
Ability to work remotely
More flexible hours to account for any symptoms
Proactive discussions around leave and cover
Reassurance around job security
Meeting with a positive attitude
"It was fantastic - I was surrounded with love and support not just from the SMT but all of the company."
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"It was a positive experience where I was able to continue my main responsibilities and role with support when I needed it."
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“Flexible hours, lots of support, encouragement to look at career progression and gain more skills (if I felt up to it) - and lots of excitement”
Breakdown by Job Role
Breakdown by seniority level
However, 8% of Mums in Tech felt like their employers were unsupportive
Unfortunately, not everyone felt the same level of support, of those that felt unsupported a majority of those were in non-technical & delivery roles Throughout the report, you will notice there is a continuing trend with these positions receiving less support, particularly senior managers.
How were they not supported?
Last-minute conversations and decisions about cover
Being sidelined on projects before they were on leave
Feeling pressure to overwork and continue long hours
No accommodations for remote/flexible work
"As I was only off for 4.5 months, no cover was arranged for me. This made me feel like my job wasn't worthwhile."
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"I had work taken off me that I was more than capable of doing. Sidelined on projects, experienced discriminatory remarks and behaviours, all of which have a significant impact on my mental health."
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"I felt under a huge amount of pressure and physical pain when I was made to commute into the London office even though I struggled with bad pelvic girdle pain and it was feasible and possible for 90% of my job to be done from home."
This is part of a series of deep dives into the findings of the first set of results from the “Reality of Mums in Tech” survey. You can access the full report here (link). The ‘Realities of Mums in Tech’ is an open and ongoing project and if you would like to contribute your story, you can today. Take the survey now
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