Welcome to the Risk Zone: The period in which women’s potential for motherhood is negatively impacting their employability

Figures show that taking leave does have an effect on career progression. The GEO found that just 13% of mothers move up the career ladder in the three years after the birth of a child, compared with 21% of fathers – because, statistically, women are more likely to reduce their hours at work after having children. “The cost of childcare has played a huge role in this. [The UK has] the third most expensive childcare in the developed world. Our research shows that 76% of mothers say it no longer makes financial sense for them to work,” says Brearley.

For those who do choose – or have to – go back to work, the emotional toll of the Risk Zone then comes into play: balancing professional duties with trying to be a “good” parent. “It’s mentally draining, knowing that I have to send my child to nursery to be able to build my business” Melissa explains.

While hybrid working can help mothers to manage these pressures – allowing them to do the school run, for example, or staying home when their child is sick – the lines between work and home life becomes increasingly blurred. “I’ve seen a situation at my office where the mum works from home four to five days a week. She works before the kids get up, then gets them ready, logs back on until the end of the school day and after they’ve gone to bed, she logs back on until 10pm to finish work,” says Jenifer. “It’s amazing that work days can be so accommodating, but when do you have time for yourself? The pressure and expectation to take your company up on this ‘very generous offer’ of working from home means there’s no give.”

Is working mum burnout the final stage of the Risk Zone? “I am worried about having work responsibilities back on my plate,” adds Jessica. “I constantly feel like my brain has a never-ending to-do list of parent things. Adding to that seems a little overwhelming at times.”

Fortunately for women who are returning to work, new legislation is in development to provide more security than ever. The Pregnancy and Maternity Discrimination Bill has been backed by the government and is set to provide further protection for those on parental leave. If this becomes law, companies will be unable to make a woman redundant from the moment she discloses her pregnancy until the child is 18 months old.

But what can you do if you’re in the Risk Zone now? Jessica has made the decision to be open with potential employers about her needs: “There may be times where I’ll require more flexibility at work and when I’m willing to give that to my employer, I want them to do the same.”

Job sharing could also be an option for those wanting to go back in a reduced capacity, with two people working part-time to split the responsibilities of one role without leaving a “gap” on their days off. According to the ONS, the majority of those working in shared roles in the UK are women, and job sharing platform Gemini3 found a 30% increase in productivity within job sharing partnerships. As a result of several successful examples, the Civil Service has now launched its own internal job share register, and there has even been the emergence of companies such as Roleshare: a “talent marketplace” allowing people to co-apply and share jobs. Change is, it seems, on the horizon.

Whether or not children are in your future plans, as a woman the most important thing you can do is to understand that while overcoming this dated mix of societal, financial and personal pressures might feel impossible, the discrimination the Risk Zone causes is a reality that can be combated. “If you are treated any differently for simply being a woman who could get pregnant then you should create a paper train immediately. It’s important to capture comments on emails, take notes with dates, and follow up on emails about conversations that have happened,” advises Brearley. So know your rights, know the law, and know you aren’t in this alone.

For more information on your rights as a woman at work, call Pregnant Then Screwed’s advice line on 0161 2229879 or visit pregnantthenscrewed.com