Six Job Options for Working Moms

Getting ahead at work can seem at odds with raising a family for many working mothers. "We know women are often forced to choose between a paycheck and a healthy family life," laments Sangita Nayak, spokeswoman for women's workplace advocacy group 9to5, National Association of Working Women.

Still, most women with children under age 18 do work -- or about three-fourths, according to Bureau of Labor Statistics data. Many maintain a fragile compromise between work and family responsibilities -- a precarious balance easily destroyed by even the slightest disruption, for example a sick child.

Nayak says the remedy lies with businesses and lawmakers, who must adopt regulations and policies that consider many workers' care giving responsibilities. "You shouldn't have to choose between being a good parent and a good employee," she says. "You should be able to do both."

Fortunately, some companies are offering benefits and policies that make maintaining a work/life balance more manageable for working mothers. If you're searching for a more family-friendly employer, look out for these six key benefits:

1. Paid Maternity Leave
Under the federal Family and Medical Leave Act, certain employees are eligible for 12 weeks of unpaid maternity leave with their job guaranteed upon their return. The act covers all state, local and federal employees, but private employees are eligible only if they work for a company with 50 or more local workers, have been on the job at least 12 months and worked at least 1,250 hours (about 25 hours per week).

Private companies' maternity leave policies vary. Some companies offer no maternity leave at all. Others, like global consumer products manufacturer and marketer SC Johnson, offer employees much longer breaks -- up to 28 weeks, according to Kelly Semrau, SC Johnson's VP of Global Public Affairs and Communication. Part of that leave may also be paid, depending on the employee's tenure with the company.

2. Reduced Hours and Flexible Scheduling
Not all mothers are ready to return to work full-time after a maternity leave. Recognizing this, some companies allow their employees to work part-time while they transition. For example, SC Johnson employees can phase back to work on a part-time basis for up to six months after a maternity leave, Semrau says.

Mothers at Milwaukee-based Kahler Slater Architects take advantage of flexible scheduling and telecommuting opportunities -- without sacrificing their career progress. "The part time staff is valued as highly as the full-time staff is," says benefits administrator Jill Stoffield. "We do have part-time staff that are owners of the firm, and we have associate principles that are part-time."

3. Job Sharing
Sometimes a job's duties just can't be completed by one part-time worker. To accommodate this while remaining flexible enough for working mothers, some companies offer job sharing opportunities, where two or more employees share the duties of one full-time position.

Many employers and workers prefer job sharing over traditional part-time working arrangements because job sharing employees can cover for each other when they are sick or need to attend to family business. This offers workers more flexibility and saves companies the hassle and expense of hiring temps or making alternative arrangements in the event of an absence.

4. Condensed 40-Hour Work Week
When an employee is willing to work 40 hours a week but still wants more family time, a condensed 40-hour work week can be a good compromise. Under this arrangement, employees work longer hours during the week -- usually four 10-hour days -- in exchange for a day off during the week. This option especially appeals to those who work in offices that don't offer part-time workers benefits like health insurance.

5. Benefits for Part-Time Workers
According to 9to5's Nayak, only one-in-six part-time workers gets paid sick leave. This means when a part-time working mother or her child gets sick, staying home can be a financial disaster. As a result, many mothers are forced to work or send their children to school sick

Some family-friendly companies do offer their part-time workers benefits, including health insurance and paid sick leave, they can come with a cost. For example, Stoffield says Kahler Slater offers its part-timers benefits on a pro-rated scale that sometimes requires higher premiums than those paid by full-time workers.

6. Childcare Assistance
When mothers work long or inconsistent hours, have a long commute or simply want to have their children close by, company childcare assistance can be a godsend. Some companies provide on-site child care for all employees -- SC Johnson's is open all three shifts, Semrau says. SC Johnson also offers reimbursements for overnight care and "date night" childcare, where six Friday nights per year, parents can drop their kids off at the child center while they enjoy a night to themselves.

Offering family-friendly policies and benefits also benefits employers. Company representatives say these types of programs have helped to boost satisfaction, and contribute to higher retention of qualified employees -- the average tenure at SC Johnson is 14.5 years, Semrau says.

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