Feeling like your maternity leave was just too short? Did you find yourself stepping away from your career to care for your little ones? If you answered “yes,” you’re definitely not alone. A creative agency is stepping in to assist mothers in addressing their career breaks due to parenting—introducing The Pregnancy Pause.
Developed by the agency Mother New York, The Pregnancy Pause offers a unique way for mothers to acknowledge their time off on their resumes, particularly on LinkedIn. By adding this title to their “Experience” section, moms can highlight their role as caregivers. They have the flexibility to choose their job title—whether it’s simply “Mom,” “Chief Little Human Officer,” or even “Job Leaver Due to Insufficient U.S. Maternity Leave,” the choice is theirs. After that, they can note their time away and include a description—suggestions range from “Designer of human life” to “Hands-on experience in development.” Moms can even add photos showcasing their parenting journey, though this is optional.
Prospective employers who click on the link to The Pregnancy Pause will be directed to a page explaining the challenges new mothers face in the U.S., where federally mandated maternity leave is only 12 weeks and unpaid. This lack of sufficient support often compels women to leave their jobs, resulting in gaps in their employment history. A concise YouTube video on the page succinctly outlines these issues.
As Corinna Taylor, Mother New York’s chief creative officer, stated, “New mothers in the U.S. often feel pressured to resign due to inadequate maternity leave policies, which creates gaps in their resumes. We aimed to provide working mothers with a straightforward tool, allowing them to represent maternity leave as the full-time job it truly is.”
The initiative also offers a downloadable toolkit on The Pregnancy Pause website, which includes a sample resume listing this experience. In addition, it provides a reference number for employers to call if they have questions about candidates’ time spent under The Pregnancy Pause umbrella. The pre-recorded message offers a positive spin on the skills acquired while raising a child.
“Any gap in a resume should ideally be due to pursuing a passion, such as starting a band or traveling. It shouldn’t be the result of choosing to have children,” noted Sam Richards, a creative director at Mother New York.
What once might have been viewed as career suicide to put The Pregnancy Pause on a resume is now becoming an empowering movement. Discussions surrounding inadequate maternity leave and the need for paid family leave policies are gaining momentum. While there’s still a long journey ahead, it’s crucial to challenge outdated professional norms that fail to accommodate women and families.
We should not have to justify our maternity leaves to potential employers, but The Pregnancy Pause is a step toward that change. Let’s spark this important conversation and pave the way for a more supportive future for mothers and their children. For more insights on fertility and family planning, check out this helpful post that discusses boosting fertility supplements and this resource for IVF and fertility preservation.
In summary, The Pregnancy Pause is a game-changing initiative that empowers mothers to reclaim their professional narratives and address career breaks due to parenting. It not only encourages a more accepting attitude toward maternity leave but also fosters a supportive conversation about the challenges mothers face in the workforce.