Is maternity leave an obstacle to women’s careers? According to a study published on Thursday 8 February by the Association for Executive Employment (Apec), 74% of female executives with children believes it Slows their hierarchical progression in the company.
The study broadcast byFrench media agency and conducted among 12,400 executives, highlights how the world of work works penalizes women who have children, particularly when returning from maternity leave.
A great loneliness
For the female executives interviewed in the report, the period of pregnancy is “often trying “. And this, from the announcement to the employer, which is a moment “agonizing” for her. And for good reason, many of them feel like they have a “ bad news to announce » or even a “feeling of betrayal” towards their business.
The survey also highlights the loneliness of female managers, during and after maternity leave: approximately one in two female managers believes that their return to work has been difficult, while 14% believe that it has been ” Very ” difficult. The reason is that, according to 71% of the women interviewed, companies are not well prepared to welcome women returning from maternity leave.
In the world of work, parenting is considered “penalizing”
“Returning to work is seen as a return to normality, even if it is similar to a new beginning. They must navigate by sight, making an effort to update themselves, to make up for lost time, to address the most urgent issues. describes the relationship. Furthermore, 44% of respondents feel difficulty finding one’s place in the previous position.
More than seven in ten women return from maternity leave “they talk about the difficulty in dealing with their workload despite the fatigue”. 60% of them express the difficulty of being “equally effective”and 56% will continue to be so “considered a manager committed to her work”. Difficulties that can last several months. Because according to all the people interviewed, both men and women, parenting is considered penalizing by 68% of managers and 78% of managerial mothers.
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Source: Madmoizelle

Mary Crossley is an author at “The Fashion Vibes”. She is a seasoned journalist who is dedicated to delivering the latest news to her readers. With a keen sense of what’s important, Mary covers a wide range of topics, from politics to lifestyle and everything in between.