Purdue Expert: New Mothers in the Workplace

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Allison Gabriel is the Thomas J. Howatt Chair in Management in the Mitchell E. Daniels, Jr. School of Business at Purdue University. In this video, she explains how new mothers returning to the workplace should be treated and what employers can do to support them. One of the biggest fears women have when coming back from maternity leave is being treated like they are a problem for being away. Gabriel says it is important for women to feel support from their work before, during and after leave. On average, Gabriel says 15% of new mothers are diagnosed with postpartum depression. This typically will take effect within the first couple of weeks but can occur at any point within the first year after birth. Because of this, Gabriel says it is crucial to support new moms during the entirety of their first year back at work and beyond. Employers that support mothers will have better employee retention, positive word of mouth and a healthier workforce. #purdue #purdueuniversity #purduenews