From working unsociable hours to waking at 4am to prepare for the day ahead, many mothers are overcoming huge challenges to stay in the workforce. Yet new research commissioned by Maltesers has found that once they get to work, many don’t feel they’re able to be their authentic selves: 30% say they don’t feel understood by others in the workplace, while 24% say they feel less valued than before.
This lack of authenticity can have a huge knock-on effect, according to Let’s Lighten the Load, a groundbreaking report from Maltesers. Not only do some working mums feel isolated, misunderstood and overlooked, but the inability to be honest about the challenges they face means they often don’t get the support they need. In some cases, mums may not be able to claim their maternity rights because their employers’ policies are not readily accessible.
