Research of Interest to Working Moms
Read working moms research and studies related to women in the workplace to shed light on the challenges and opportunities facing working moms. Research on work-life balance and the benefits of flexibility can bolster your case for flexible work.
Maybe you fell into your job by accident and your path seems fixed. But if you're just beginning your career or refocusing, looking at the best-paying jobs for women will help you get the most for each hour of work. The best jobs for women rely on technical, analytical and managerial skills. Top of the list of best-paying jobs for women are pharmacist, chief executive and lawyer.
A 2009 survey of full-time employees found 94 percent were willing to take a pay cut, change their schedule or lose flexibility to keep a job. The recession has forced 90 percent of workers surveyed to change employment plans, forgo a career break or other flexibility to keep a job. Still, companies continue to offer work-life flexibility, according to the report by Work+Life Fit on what people would do to keep a job.
Effective work-life benefits encourage employees to work harder and stay with an organization, according to research by the Corporate Executive Board. People who are happy with their work-life benefits work 21 percent harder and are 33 percent more likely to stay at that organization, a survey by the board found. Men and women hold similar views of work-life benefits, the report found. Companies should improve their work-life benefits and communicate them to employees, the report said.
Gender roles are changing at work and at home, according to Families and Work Institute research. Young men and women are challenging traditional gender roles in wanting both a career and family, according to a survey of 3,500 Americans. The new gender roles show up at the office, with women under 29 just as likely as men to want jobs with more responsibility. Moreover, the report found no difference between young mothers and women without children in their desire for career success.
Female business owners are more likely than male business owners to spend time on housework and child care, making use of the flexibility that comes with self-employment, according to a research study released by the U.S. Small Business Administration in February 2009. Female business owners spend 3.5 more hours per week in household activities than wage-and-salary earning women and six more hours than men. Female business owners work 10 fewer hours than self-employed men, the study found.
Pregnancy discrimination complaints to the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission rose dramatically, with women filing 65% more claims in 2007 than in 1992, according to a report by the National Partnership for Women & Families. Claims of pregnancy discrimination climbed faster than the influx of women into the workforce. Pregnancy discrimination claims by women of color drove the increase, said the report, which was released on the 30th anniversary of the Pregnancy Discrimination Act.
