6 Signs a Prospective Employer Is Unfairly Judging You for Being a Working Mom

Is your commitment to work being unfairly judged simply because you are a mom? A recent survey by Aeroflow Breastpumps shows that as many as 62.61 percent of working moms feel as if a negative stigma is attached to moms who breastfeed at work, even though moms are an incredibly valuable resource. Put an end to being unfairly judged by a prospective employer by learning to recognize the following signs, then take action to cut down on discrimination.

1. You hear unfair comments

If you’re entering a judgmental work environment, your prospective supervisor and coworkers may voice their concerns directly to you or to each other during your interview process. However, those concerns are generally tied to unfair assumptions and false stigmas attached to working moms.

You may be asked unfair questions such as:

  • “You won’t have time to work full-time as a mom, right?”
  • “Isn’t your focus now more about your family instead of work?”
  • “Wasn’t your maternity leave a nice vacation?”

More: Working Mom Guilt Is Real — 16 Moms Weigh In on How They Deal

2. You’re faced with an inflexible work schedule

Potential employers that judge working mothers may view mothers as less capable due to needing more workplace flexibility. You may be more harshly reprimanded for being late, needing to leave early or working from home.

Often, there isn’t any understanding for not being able to make a 4:30 p.m. meeting due to having to pick your child up from day care or dropping everything to leave if your child is sick.

As supervisors believe you’ll actually work fewer hours after giving birth, you may be viewed as unable to keep up and given less important assignments until you’re able to prove yourself again.

3. You’re being paid less than the typical new hire

While this isn’t an issue only working moms have because all women face wage discrimination, workingwomen are paid even less after giving birth. According to the Institute for Women’s Policy Research, in 2017, women received about 80 cents for every dollar a man earned, resulting in a gender wage gap of about 20 percent.

Due to taking more time off and requiring more breaks, employers often justify paying moms less. According to a group of researchers in Denmark, after giving birth, a mother’s pay decreased by 30 percent and never fully recovered. Women without children continued to increase their pay and men with children actually earn more.

When talking to prospective employers, be aware and make sure any offer is not lower than what it should be simply because you are a working mom.

More: Moms With This Many Kids Are the Most Stressed Out

4. Your ideas aren’t being heard

Moms can easily have their talent and ambitions ignored, as supervisors simply don’t pay attention to their ideas. Your questions may go unanswered and comments during interviews may be brushed off.

In some cases, new moms find themselves no longer being invited to meetings or interviews. This is because some employers take “mom brain” seriously and feel as if moms can’t contribute as much. While you may be exhausted, having a baby does not make you less an employee or intellectual.

5. It’s assumed you’re going part-time

Many mothers choose to become stay-at-home moms after having their child or may only return to work part-time. However, many mothers also return to full-time positions or seek better opportunities.

Even though women are the primary earners in 40 percent of households, they face the gender bias of not being expected to work full-time after having a baby. While you’re expecting, you may be asked if you can keep up while only working part-time. Also, you might have to correct the assumption that you won’t be returning to your full-time position even if you never indicated that would be the case.

More: Study Says Working Parents Only Get This Pitiful Amount of Me Time a Day

6. You’re only referred to as a mom

After giving birth, you might as well have “mom” tattooed on your forehead, because in some instances, that’s all your prospective colleagues will see. Instead of being seen as an individual, you might be constantly referred to as a mom or be asked about motherhood instead of about yourself.

If the questions in your interviews start to be more about being a mom vs. your qualifications, shift the focus back to what you bring to the table from a talent and experience standpoint.

Breaking the bias:

As women make up half of the workforce, mothers are unfairly seen as less capable, when in reality, research published in the Journal of Economic Behavior & Organization shows working moms are actually more productive. Modern advances have made it easier for women to balance family and work life, and many working moms are more than able to maintain their career goals. It’s time we all play an active role in breaking through the myths and biases associated with breastfeeding moms in the workplace.

A version of this post previously appeared on Fairygodboss, the largest career community that helps women get the inside scoop on pay, corporate culture, benefits and work flexibility. Founded in 2015, Fairygodboss offers company ratings, job listings, discussion boards and career advice.

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