Moms = Good Business

According to the LeanIn.org and Harvard Business School, 43% of college –educated women leave the workforce to have children. 90% of them intend or would like to come back to work. That’s a huge opportunity for businesses today.

Here is my opinion why hiring Moms makes good business sense:

MOMS ARE DEPENDABLE—everyone in the household counts on Mom. Our spouse relies on us to keep things working at home, so they can focus on their career. Our children depend on us for everything—food, transportation, education assistance, clothing, activities, nurturing. Even the family pet survives because of us. We show up!

MOMS ARE MASTERS OF THE MULTITASK—Everyone relies on us, because we are able to simultaneously juggle multiple projects at the same time. A typical morning at my house involves, walking the dog, giving her food and medication, while simultaneously making coffee and breakfasts, packing hot lunches (my kids will not eat sandwiches), signing everyone’s homework folders, arranging car pools for the afternoon, and throwing in a load of laundry. All this before my husband leaves for the office. The rest of the day goes on from there….it’s not a 9am-5pm gig. I’m still working long after everyone else has sat down for TV or gone to bed.

MOMS ARE FORWARD-THINKING—Moms are always thinking about the future. I plan meals on Sunday for the entire week. This way I know what to shop for and stay on budget. Because my children have activities on weekday afternoons, I often put these in the slow cooker in the morning so they are ready when everyone gets home. In January, I try to plan our vacations for the year. This allows my husband to request time off and we can search for the best deals. It also gives us something to look forward to. Mothers think about their children’s future- creating savings plans for college and sending them to appropriate sports camps for the schools they are interested in. We work with financial planners and tax advisors to mange our finances for the future.

MOMS ARE STRATEGIC AND TEAM PLAYERS—One of the ways that Moms are able to get all this done is by being strategic. We find activities and camps that work for multiple kids in different locations. The saving strategy here is the “carpool.” Sometimes finding the right carpool partner is a job in itself, but we always make it work. We rely on a team of other parents to make this complex calendar and transportation system work. Networking with other moms, dads, and other caregivers is part of the job. You have probably heard this before, “it takes a village.”

MOMS ARE SOLUTION PROVIDERS—I don’t know about you, but even at my age, when I have a problem, I go to my mom. Moms have an uncanny ability to listen to a problem, weigh the pros and cons, and come up with options.

MOMS ARE EMPATHETIC—Moms make good employees because they have empathy for their co-workers, clients and everyone with whom they interact. We CARE. We put 100% into everything we do.

Overlooking a potential mom employee, because they took time off to raise future citizens of our society, may be a huge missed opportunity. The next time you get a resume from a former female executive with a gap, don’t overlook it. She could be the best new addition to your team!