TheJakartaPost
Please Update your browser
Your browser is out of date, and may not be compatible with our website. A list of the most popular web browsers can be found below.
Just click on the icons to get to the download page.
Indonesia takes a promising step forward for working moms
More than one in four working women were considering downshifting their careers or leaving the workforce entirely while balancing work and home responsibilities, a survey found.
Change text size
Gift Premium Articles
to Anyone
Share the best of The Jakarta Post with friends, family, or colleagues. As a subscriber, you can gift 3 to 5 articles each month that anyone can read—no subscription needed!
A mother feeds her child in an office environment. (Shutterstock/-)
A
bout a year ago, I made the tough decision that led me to step away from a career I cherished in a leading tech entertainment company. As I anticipated the birth of our second child, the joy was mingled with the realization of the impending challenges.
My first experience as a working mother had already exposed me to the steep demands of juggling a high-paced job with parenting – a balancing act made more daunting with the prospect of two young children.
Despite my passion for my role and the industry, the support system – or the lack thereof –within the workplace and broader societal infrastructure made it clear that continuing in the same capacity was untenable.
Opting to leave was not just a personal choice but a necessity, underscoring a broader, critical dialogue about the adequacy of support for working mothers in Indonesia and around the world. This decision, while fortunate for our family, highlighted the stark reality that many women face without such options, emphasizing the urgent need for systemic change.
Globally, this decision isn't uncommon. In North America, for instance, McKinsey’s 2020 Women in the Workplace report, in collaboration with Lean In Org found that more than one in four working women were considering downshifting their careers or leaving the workforce entirely while balancing work and home responsibilities. The rate was even higher, one in three, among working mothers with young children.
When I planned to return to the workforce, setting new priorities was crucial, with flexibility at the top of the list.
Fortunately, I found a company that not only offers flexibility but also understands that my responsibilities extend beyond the workplace. Its support for working mothers is exemplified through its exceptional maternity leave policy, which provides six months of leave available during pregnancy, childbirth or postpartum.
