What is the “motherhood penalty”?

New York- How is the “motherhood penalty” is impacting the careers of working mothers, with 52% considering leaving the workforce due to the rising cost of childcare?

“Motherhood penalty” is a largely unrecognized burden that disproportionately affects working mothers as they grapple with the high costs and stresses of securing quality childcare for school-aged children.

• Women are 5 to 8 times more likely than men to have their employment impacted by caregiving duties.

• Mothers are 114% more inclined than fathers to take a break in their careers.

“This issue not only pressures mothers out of the workforce but also has broader economic implications, affecting family finances, business productivity, and overall stability within the workforce and homes,” explains Carleen Haylett, CEO of EnrichedHQ.

With childcare payments having spiked by 32% since 2019, corporations, human resource (HR) departments, and business leaders must realize that investing in and partnering with online educational marketplace programs to offer high-quality educational and childcare benefits to their employees yields significant returns, not only for their companies but also for the entire society.

Considering startling statistics that mothers are 6 times less likely to be hired than men with children, Haylett remarks, “Big corporations need to wake up. Online educational platforms can play a significant role in cutting the attrition rate of employees, more specifically women, potentially saving millions of dollars, and making a positive impact on their employees, and the students that are the future of our society.”