53 percent of women who take maternity leave in Ireland feel disadvantaged on their return to work

Working mums, stay at home mothers... every woman is unique and it's important to remember that no one has it easy.

If/when you return to work after taking maternity leave, the transition process should be as seamless as possible for both you and your baby but that's not always the case. Expensive childcare and job practices that interfere with family life can result in a make or break decision for many working mums and new research highlights the need for change. A survey released to coincide with International Women's Day has revealed some interesting statistics sure to resonate with mothers across the country. Currently, 53 percent of women who take maternity leave in Ireland feel disadvantaged when they return to work and 25 percent of working mums in Ireland move jobs before returning to work after their maternity leave. 58 percent of women make the move to a 'family-friendly industry' after having children as their needs and priorities realign. Interestingly, 84 percent of working mothers want the option to work from home but only a third of employers accommodate this as a request. The research was conducted by global recruiter Robert Walters, surveying 4,500 female professionals across Ireland with managing director, Louise Campell commenting:

"With only 24 percent of women returning to the same employer after a career break, that means most women returning to the workforce are looking for a new job. As a result, employers that understand what women in this situation are looking for are positioned to attract the best talent. “Employers looking to recruit women who have taken a career break should be aware of the valuable skills these professionals may have developed during their time away from the workplace. “Experience in other areas, such as volunteering, pursuing higher education, freelancing or working in another field, means that they can offer unique perspectives when they return to their careers".

This survey also highlighted the fact that 37 percent of women view on-site children as an advantage but just 2 percent of employers offer this service. 43 percent of mums would appreciate the ability to jobshare but only 12 percent of workplaces can prioritise this while 79 percent have noted that a mentor on returning to work would be hugely beneficial. Unfortunately, this option is currently only available at 8 percent of companies.