Naps, snacks, work from home and Childcare
It’s tough being a working mom. Although you get the satisfaction of getting time to yourself and doing something productive that also works your brain, you don’t always get to spend as much time with your kids as you’d like.
When do you fit in the grocery shopping? What about parent and teacher conferences? How do you manage taking care of your child when he or she is sick without tearing through your vacation days?
Then, there’s the guilt. Sometimes, it can be hard for a mom to hire someone else to watch her kids. I can guarantee you that all of these feelings are normal. I can also assure you that it’s ok for you to do something for yourself that helps to support your family.
This is the world that we live in. Fortunately, if you live in San Francisco, there are many companies that make it easier to be a mom.
1. Facebook
Facebook offers new parents four months of paid leave after having a child. This is provided whether you’re a mother, father or adoptive parent.
If you’re a stay-at-home mom, you know how helpful it is to have your partner around during those first few months. If you’re a working mom, you know how crucial it is to be able to stay home to develop that bond with your baby and to sleep when the baby sleeps.
One special perk of working for Facebook is that you’ll get a $4,000 bonus for dealing with child-related expenses after having a baby. That’s the best baby shower gift ever.
A few of Facebook’s locations offer breastfeeding rooms for moms. According to Elle, the rooms contain hospital-grade breast pumps, nursing supplies, breast milk soap, a refrigerator, and a microwave. You can pull a curtain around your comfy chair for privacy. Click here for this valuable post on surviving breast pumping at work.
2. Apple
Apple offers a desirable parental leave policy too. Pregnant mothers can take up to four weeks of paid leave before giving birth. They are allowed to take 14 weeks after the baby is born. Fathers and adoptive parents may take six weeks of paid leave.
Apple stood out as an employer that offered perks for mothers even as far back as 1989, before it became trendy to do so. An LA Times article reports that Apple was ranked at the top of a list of 60 employers as the best company for working mothers in that year.
3. Google
Google found that offering a longer paid parental leave period helped reduce turnover. The company understands that 12-week-old babies are at a much different developmental level than 18-month-olds.
The company extended its maternity leave to 18 weeks in 2007. Biological mothers can take 22 months if they experience complications. All new parents are eligible for 12 weeks of paid leave.
4. Genentech
Biotech giant Genentech follows a model of corporate culture that’s similar to that of Google and Apple. The company is notoriously considerate of its employees’ needs. The company has nap pods in one of its buildings. Does a working mother really need anything else?
Yes, a working mother does need a few other things, including childcare. That’s offered at Genentech. So is a drop-off laundry service that gives you a chance to take one more thing off of your to-do list.
Every six years, you get to take a six-week sabbatical. The company says that this prevents burnout. It also gives mothers more time to enjoy their families.
5. Eventbrite
Speaking of nap rooms, they’re available at Eventbrite. The company also provides mothers’ rooms so that you can get a pumping session in comfortably. Eventbrite even gives you personal accessories for its hospital-grade pumps.
Busy moms often forget to eat. You know what I mean if you’re one of them. You don’t have to remember to pack a lunch when you work at Eventbrite. The company offers endless snacks. You also get catered food.
If you don’t want to go into the office every day, you may have the opportunity to work from home. This is a great benefit for moms who want to transition slowly back into the working world.
6. Pinterest
Pinterest is notorious for its woman-friendly workplace. The company puts a great deal of emphasis on getting time away from the job. That may come as a relief to a mother, who must juggle her family and career priorities. You don’t have to trade one for the other when you work at Pinterest.
7. The FruitGuys
Large corporations are not the only ones that offer great benefits for working moms. The FruitGuys is a small company that provides farm-fresh fruit to offices around the nation. If you work there, you’ll get free produce weekly. That could save you a few trips to the grocery store. The company also prides itself on encouraging a strong work-life balance.
8. Bank of America
Bank of America actively supports its female employees. The company offers 16 weeks of paid leave for biological mothers, fathers, and adoptive parents. Some employees also report having the flexibility to work from home.
The company also reimburses mothers for some childcare expenses. That’s important when you have to decide whether it’s financially worth it to make a career move or stay home with your family.
9. Bain & Co.
This consulting firm is keeping up with the way families are changing. The company recently extended maternity leave to 16 weeks for biological mothers. It also offers fertility coverage to partners of the same sex.
If you’re a mom, you can work with a staffing manager to take cases that work with your family life. You can combine the roles of a few different jobs to make room for your life outside of work. The firm also offers discounted childcare for emergencies.
Since you may not be able to move to Sweden, where mothers get 480 paid days of maternity leave, San Francisco may be the next best thing. The employee-centric culture that’s popular in the tech firms is trickling out into the career culture throughout the city. It helps that the people of San Francisco place importance on being outdoors and enjoying their leisure time as well as being productive at work. This is one of the best cities for mothers to get ahead in their careers as well as at home.