Career or child care? It’s an unfortunate dilemma faced by every working woman with a baby on the way. Should she take a lengthy maternity leave, knowing that more time at home can improve the well-being of both mother and child? After all, research shows maternity leaves are related to lower infant mortality and reduced maternal stress. Or should she forego that long maternity leave, knowing that getting back to work quickly will improve her career opportunities?
Summary.
Around the world, many governments are starting to offer extended, paid maternity leave. But there’s some evidence that suggests longer leaves for new mothers may interrupt women’s careers and ultimately harm their prospects in the long run. A new study helps explain why. When women take advantage of longer leaves, it sends a signal to employers that they are less committed to their work. In a resume study, researchers found that women who took longer leaves were perceived as less desirable. But this hurdle can be overcome; when resumes were paired with letters of recommendation that attested to the candidate’s work ethic and dedication, longer leave-takers were perceived just the same as women who took short leaves.
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Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging Course
Accelerate your career with Harvard ManageMentor®. HBR Learning’s online leadership training helps you hone your skills with courses like Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging. Earn badges to share on LinkedIn and your resume. Access more than 40 courses trusted by Fortune 500 companies.
How to build a better, more just workplace.