Two-thirds (65 per cent) of working mothers in Canada are experiencing a difficult mental-health load caused by balancing their work and family responsibilities, according to a new survey by Capterra Inc.
The survey, which polled nearly 1,000 Canadian employees, found 46 per cent of working mothers felt more likely to be overlooked for promotion opportunities, 39 per cent felt less likely to be included in projects and 36 per cent felt like a less worthy member of their workplace team.
Over a third (35 per cent) of female respondents reported their career plans have been affected by dreams of having a family and 19 per cent didn’t feel comfortable sharing the news of their pregnancy with their employer.
Read: 47% of working moms experiencing burnout balancing work, childcare: survey
The survey also found 35 per cent of working mothers felt their employer provided no support after sharing the news of their pregnancy. However, among those who did receive support, resources provided included more flexible working hours (31 per cent), fewer tasks (22 per cent) and the possibility of working from home (19 per cent).
When it comes to working parents overall, 54 per cent reported receiving some support to balance their work-life responsibilities, but 23 per cent weren’t receiving any resources to help them.
Nearly half (46 per cent) of working parents felt they’re ‘never really off work’ when they work from home and 44 per cent reported working overtime hours due to difficulties managing their work-life balance. Also, 42 per cent of parents who work from home said their stress levels are higher and 36 per cent reported a decline in quality of work as a result of distractions at home.
“Employees are humans first and need to be supported as individuals as well as contributors to the company,” said Tessa Anaya, analyst at Capterra, in a press release. “Many workplaces offer schedule flexibility that helps working parents manage their home and work responsibilities, but companies could go further. Family planning programs and childcare agreements can go a long way in supporting employees juggling parental and career roles, as well as digital tools that can help boost efficiency and productivity.”
Read: Expert panel: How employers can support working parents this summer