It’s Maternal Mental Health Week in the UK, and as someone who has been in the HR game for over 25 years, I think it’s important to give a shout-out to all the working moms out there juggling their careers and family life. It’s a tough job, but somebody’s gotta do it!
As small business owners, it’s important to create a supportive and understanding environment for working mothers. So, I’ve put together a list of tips that you can implement to support maternal mental health in your workplace:
Be Flexible with Work Hours: Let’s face it, life happens. Kids get sick, school schedules change, and sometimes working moms just need a little extra time to take care of themselves. By being flexible with work hours, you can allow working moms to adjust their schedules to fit their needs. This can help them reduce stress and increase productivity.
Create a Safe and Open Environment: Let’s be real, mental health is still a taboo topic in some workplaces. But, it’s important to create a safe and open environment where working mothers can feel comfortable discussing their mental health. Encourage them to speak up if they need extra support or flexible work arrangements.
Offer Supportive Policies: As a small business owner, you can create policies that support maternal mental health. For example, offering paid maternity leave or flexible work arrangements can make a big difference for working moms. Make sure these policies are communicated clearly and are easily accessible to all employees.
Provide Mental Health Resources: It’s important to provide access to mental health resources like counseling, support groups, and employee assistance programs. Make sure working moms know how to access these resources and that they feel comfortable doing so.
Lead by Example: Small business owners play a big role in setting the tone for their company culture. By prioritizing your own mental health and encouraging others to do the same, you can create a workplace culture that values and supports mental health.
In conclusion, supporting maternal mental health is not only the right thing to do, but it’s also good for business. Creating a supportive and understanding environment for working moms can increase employee satisfaction, productivity, and loyalty. So, let’s show some love to all the working moms out there and make our small businesses a better place for everyone.
Why not take a look at our Mental Health and Wellbeing Checklist to see how well you are doing and what your priorities will be for 2023? Remember you don’t have to do everything all at once but if you have a plan that is a good start.
