In the latest HCI Webinar, Dr. Jonathan H. Westover talks with Patrice Meagher about how employers can best support working moms. Below is a summary of the main points from their conversation! Check out the full episode and let us know what you think!
Watch the episode here:
Quick Recap
Jonathan and Patrice discussed the importance of supporting working mothers, particularly in the context of pumping at work, and the challenges faced by working parents without supportive policies or resources. They emphasized the need for a holistic approach to address these challenges, including the implementation of tools and benefits to value and retain working parents, and the importance of understanding and addressing the needs of working parents in the workplace. They also touched on the importance of competitive analysis, piloting different approaches, and addressing previously sensitive topics to create a more inclusive and supportive work environment.
Supporting Working Mothers at Work
Jonathan and Patrice discussed the importance of supporting working mothers, particularly in the context of pumping at work. Patrice shared her personal experience as a working mother, pumping in the workplace for eight years, and how this led her to create Milk Mate, a service that provides a full solution for pumping at work, including a high-performance, multi-user pump, and all associated parts. The service also includes furniture, installation, education, and ongoing support. Patrice emphasized that Milk Mate is not just about providing a practical solution, but also about promoting a culture of support for working mothers. Jonathan agreed, highlighting the need for both awareness and practical implementation to support working mothers. They also discussed the importance of having parent-friendly policies in place, including maternity and paternity policies.
Supporting Working Parents' Challenges
Jonathan and Patrice discussed the challenges faced by working parents, particularly those without supportive policies or resources. Jonathan shared his experience as a professor who was able to balance work and family due to his job's flexibility, but acknowledged that not all parents have such opportunities. Patrice emphasized the importance of providing support to all parents, regardless of their circumstances, and highlighted the need for a holistic approach to address the various challenges faced by working parents. They agreed that implementing smaller benefits over time can make a significant difference in supporting working parents.
Valuing Working Parents for Long-Term Gain
Patrice emphasized the importance of implementing tools and benefits to value and retain working parents, leading to better long-term advancement and retention. She highlighted the significant return on investment, including time savings and cost savings from reduced turnover. Patrice also discussed the domino effect of providing better benefits for working parents, which positively impacts the team, family, HR leaders, and managers. Jonathan agreed with Patrice's points and asked for her approach in helping clients recognize the long-term benefits of investing in these tools and benefits.
Daring to Be Great in Talent
Patrice and Jonathan discussed the importance of organizations daring to be great and adopting new benefits to retain and advance their talent. They noted that large organizations often struggle with this due to their size and bureaucracy, while smaller, more agile organizations are more likely to adopt new benefits quickly. Patrice emphasized the importance of competitive analysis and signing up big organizations in certain industries to create a domino effect for others to follow. They concluded that organizations that are truly daring to be great will be the ones to advance and retain their talent effectively.
Supporting Working Parents in the Workplace
Patrice and Jonathan discussed the importance of understanding and addressing the needs of working parents, particularly new mothers, in the workplace. They highlighted the need for better communication and education to bridge the gap in understanding the challenges faced by these individuals. Patrice emphasized the importance of providing the necessary tools and resources to support working parents, and suggested piloting different approaches to gather data on what works best. Jonathan agreed, noting that while some solutions may require investment, the long-term benefits often outweigh the costs. They also touched on the importance of addressing previously sensitive topics, such as menopause, to create a more inclusive and supportive work environment.
Listen to the webinar here:
