Employer Gift Guide For Mother's Day
What working moms really want for Mother’s day
It’s been quite a year! That makes this Mother’s Day the perfect time to give a little time and attention to all the hard-working caretakers who have been working double time during this pandemic.
We’ve been astounded by the working moms among us, and awed by the many ways they navigate life as both parent and professional. Whether feeding a baby while sharing financials via Zoom, juggling home-school and work-from-home, or rocking a little one to sleep while rocking the power point presentation: working mothers are doing great work.
To help you honor your employees who work and mother, we’re sharing the real gifts that all working parents crave, from those pumping at work to those working at home with children in tow.
Because Mother's Day can also be a difficult time of year for many women, we’re sharing ideas that would benefit all employees, companywide.
5 Gifts working mothers want from their employers
1. Flexibility to play the hand she’s dealt, day-to-day
ditch the blender and let her mix up her schedule
Working parents are holding cards that may be shuffled at any time. When one factor changes - like child care or a new project at work - routines must be reimagined. The ebb and flow of balancing demands, day-to-day sometimes even hour to hour, places a great deal of additional stress on employees. By honoring the shifting tides, you remove obstacles that allow for deeper productivity and healthier people.
When you create an environment that encourages flexibility, you’ll encourage employees to do what must be done and enable them to bring their best selves to the table.
2. A free pass to turn off her camera without having to explain
witness her contributions without her video feed
The blended demands of work and home often leave parents feeling ‘always on.’ That feeling is even greater in this remote environment where mothers face a lack of boundaries between home and work (for many, the dining room table is also the desk!). And caring for little ones between the age of a few weeks and a few years is also incredibly hands-on.
Sometimes employees feel pressured to be seen while working from the home office because others turn on their own cameras. Having to be seen when your kids keep coming in the room or your baby needs to nurse, can emphasize the difficulties inherent in working from home when childcare is less available.
Knowing there is a policy of choice when it comes to video can alleviate unnecessary stress and liberate employees to more readily focus on the call rather than the optics.
3. Acknowledge the awesomeness
skip the tchotchke and tell her directly that you appreciate her
In the pandemic, working parents are experiencing an amplified tension between responsibilities at home and work. To be part of the solution, recognize the effort, honor it and help them navigate. The simple act of acknowledging and validating a parent’s situation—saying “we see you and we admire your efforts”—is incredibly powerful.
When we say we value our employees and their efforts, they are encouraged and continue to deliver their best.
4. a bonus day off
give the gift of time
In honor of Mother’s Day, give all your employees a bonus day, hour, or whatever is appropriate for your business.
When we asked our community what they want most, they replied ‘time’ more often than any other mention. With little back up, at home or at work, sometimes what your working parents need most is a break.
Rather than structure the time with a company function, like lunch, give her the opportunity to choose when and how she uses her time.
5. killer family-friendly benefits
support her in all her roles, including ‘mother’
According to a recent study by Great Place to Work Institute and virtual clinic Maven, the very best workplaces are “investing in benefits that provide continuous care and holistic support for parents at every stage,” including fertility coverage, child care, and breastfeeding support. When you consider that two out of five of workers have underage children at home, it pays to determine the best family-friendly actions you can take - and benefits you can offer - to support your working parents.
Additionally, to be truly family-friendly, we must also be a harbinger of inclusion as well as support the mental health and wellbeing of our employees.
special note: it’s not always a happy mother’s day
Because we at pumpspotting spend nearly all our waking moments thinking about how to nourish and support feeding parents, we also know that mother’s day is a tough day for some. Whether they’ve lost someone that they love, struggle with infertility, or have another reason altogether: Mother’s Day can remind us of our pain. Our advice to employers is to celebrate the holiday by using the above gift guide; and when communicating with employees, remember that some team members may not be elated at the coming day. Make your Mother’s Day offers available to all employees and practice kindness.
Learn More
It’s powerful to support your working parents. You can increase retention, support recruitment and invest in your employer brand. Whether you need a breastfeeding policy, lactation facilities audits or the pumpspotting app to manage, support and implement your breastfeeding support program, we’re here to help.