Creating inclusivity during the maternity phase
Background: A manufacturing company wanted to foster a culture of support and sensitivity for its female employees during the maternity phase. For this, they enlisted Re-Link to design tailored interventions aimed at cultivating such an environment.
The Challenge: Despite having progressive policies intended to support female employees during maternity leave and upon their return to work, there was a concerning trend of low engagement among this group. Adding to the challenge, the supervisors reported feeling ill-equipped to facilitate smooth transitions for their female employees. Both employees and supervisors described the prevailing organizational culture as transactional, signaling a pressing need for meaningful changes.
Re-Link’s Solution: To tackle these challenges head-on, we introduced MOMsphere – a comprehensive set of toolkits tailored for expectant employees, their supervisors, and their co-workers.
Presented in an engaging storytelling format with captivating comic strip illustrations, the toolkits comprise of three essential handbooks that effectively convey the message of inclusivity to all stakeholder groups. With dedicated sections to guide readers through the transition phase, they also serve as educational tools, enlightening each party about the unique challenges faced by the other during the delicate maternity period.
For expectant employees, this phase is dotted with a myriad of concerns, including worries about balancing work responsibilities and preparing for the arrival of their child, concerns about health, uncertainty about the impact of their absence on the career trajectory, workplace relationships, anxiety about the transition back to work after maternity leave ends, to name a few.
For supervisors, this phase brings forth concerns about managing workload redistribution amongst the team, ensuring that deadlines are met in the employee’s absence, while providing adequate support and resources for the employee’s transition back to work after maternity leave.
For co-workers, this transition may give way to worries about how workload redistribution will affect their own tasks and responsibilities, covering for their expectant colleague, impact of additional work on reviews and recognition, ensuring smooth handover, as well as their colleague.
Before crafting the toolkits, we carried out a comprehensive diagnostics study to delve into perspectives, lived experiences, individual narratives, and dilemmas which would enable us to tailor the handbooks to the organization’s unique needs.
Through this study, a crucial insight emerged; the key ingredient for inclusivity was missing – understanding the other’s circumstances.
Addressing this vital aspect, the MOMsphere handbooks provide actionable strategies and insights to promote inclusive behaviors. Furthermore, they demystify maternity-related policies of the organisation and address frequently asked questions, ensuring clarity and understanding among all stakeholders.
Outcomes:
- 100% of the readers reported feeling understood.
- They also reported having a better grasp of the difficulties of other stakeholder groups.
- It initiated bringing a culture of empathy; sessions on leading with empathy were planned, amongst other campaigns.