Here on the show, we talk a lot about how tough it is to raise kids, but if we’re being honest, sometimes it feels like the world is stacked against us from the moment we get that positive sign on a pregnancy test. Nearly all the women in my close circle of friends work full time and I would be lying if I told you that the thrill of their pregnancy news was met by an honest bit of fear.
That seems normal right, who wouldn’t be worried about becoming a mother? But parenthood wasn’t the only thing eating them. It was actually how they would tell their employers the news and how a pregnancy, or several, would affect their careers.
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act passed in 1978 technically protects a person’s workplace rights, which means that women can’t be discriminated against for being pregnant. But it happens every day. In fact, statistics show that in the last 10 years, more than 50,000 pregnancy discrimination claims were filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Fair Employment Practices Agencies. That’s nearly 14 women per day, every day who come forward. And that’s just the start.
Once a woman gets through the stress of “breaking the news” of a pregnancy to her powers that be, she then has to start a conversation about maternity leave. With no federal paid parental leave program available in the United States, these are very murky waters. Some companies have policies in place, some states even offer a level of job security, but rarely here in the U.S. can women access a program that allows them to feel financially secure enough to enjoy their first few months as a mother.
So what gives? Let’s find out.
My guest today is Amy Beacom, a mom of two and the Founder and CEO of the Center for Parental Leave Leadership, the first consultancy in the US to focus exclusively on parental leave. Amy is recognized as the premiere expert on the personal and professional interplay around parental leave for employers and employees. She helps women advocate for themselves in order to fully experience motherhood without the burdens of wobbly job security or financial stress.
From mental health and managing relationships to raising changemakers and advocating for support, freemom is a podcast dedicated to ensuring that every mom feels heard. You can find us on the gram at @freemomcast or on the web at www.freemomcast.com. You can also support the show and help fund production with a sweet little five-dollar donation right here. Thanks for listening!
From mental health and managing relationships to raising changemakers and advocating for support, freemom is a podcast dedicated to ensuring that every mom feels heard. You can find us on the gram at @freemomcast or on the web at www.freemomcast.com. You can also support the show and help fund production with a sweet little five-dollar donation right here. Thanks for listening!
Here on the show, we talk a lot about how tough it is to raise kids, but if we’re being honest, sometimes it feels like the world is stacked against us from the moment we get that positive sign on a pregnancy test. Nearly all the women in my close circle of friends work full time and I would be lying if I told you that the thrill of their pregnancy news was met by an honest bit of fear.
That seems normal right, who wouldn’t be worried about becoming a mother? But parenthood wasn’t the only thing eating them. It was actually how they would tell their employers the news and how a pregnancy, or several, would affect their careers.
The Pregnancy Discrimination Act passed in 1978 technically protects a person’s workplace rights, which means that women can’t be discriminated against for being pregnant. But it happens every day. In fact, statistics show that in the last 10 years, more than 50,000 pregnancy discrimination claims were filed with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission and Fair Employment Practices Agencies. That’s nearly 14 women per day, every day who come forward. And that’s just the start.
Once a woman gets through the stress of “breaking the news” of a pregnancy to her powers that be, she then has to start a conversation about maternity leave. With no federal paid parental leave program available in the United States, these are very murky waters. Some companies have policies in place, some states even offer a level of job security, but rarely here in the U.S. can women access a program that allows them to feel financially secure enough to enjoy their first few months as a mother.
So what gives? Let’s find out.
My guest today is Amy Beacom, a mom of two and the Founder and CEO of the Center for Parental Leave Leadership, the first consultancy in the US to focus exclusively on parental leave. Amy is recognized as the premiere expert on the personal and professional interplay around parental leave for employers and employees. She helps women advocate for themselves in order to fully experience motherhood without the burdens of wobbly job security or financial stress.
From mental health and managing relationships to raising changemakers and advocating for support, freemom is a podcast dedicated to ensuring that every mom feels heard. You can find us on the gram at @freemomcast or on the web at www.freemomcast.com. You can also support the show and help fund production with a sweet little five-dollar donation right here. Thanks for listening!
From mental health and managing relationships to raising changemakers and advocating for support, freemom is a podcast dedicated to ensuring that every mom feels heard. You can find us on the gram at @freemomcast or on the web at www.freemomcast.com. You can also support the show and help fund production with a sweet little five-dollar donation right here. Thanks for listening!