The Cost of Motherhood: Exploring the Consequences of Varying Maternity Leave Policies and their Impact

Disclaimer: As a father of two, I fully understand the challenges and joys of having a child and the importance of having sufficient time to focus on the newborn. My wife was fortunate enough to have access to a generous maternity leave policy in India, which allowed us to spend quality time with our children during their early years. However, she experienced a negative impact on her performance appraisal and career growth in the subsequent years.

As an executive member of a business operating in regions with varying maternity leave policies, it is crucial to have open and honest conversations about the potential impact of these policies on both the employee and the company. In India, the maternity leave policy allows up to 26 weeks of paid leave, while in Malaysia, the maximum is only 14 weeks. This discrepancy raises questions about the impact on women's employment and empowerment in these regions.

Several Indian CEOs and founders have expressed their views on this issue, with many advocating for longer maternity leave policies to promote gender equality and support working mothers. However, there are differing opinions on whether longer maternity leave policies are beneficial for women's workforce participation. Some argue that longer leave periods make women less attractive to employers and result in lower overall workforce participation, while others point to studies that show increased retention rates and improved employee morale with longer leave policies.

To gain a better understanding of public opinion on this issue, I have created a poll #castyouropinion & #commentyouopinion,?

https://www.dhirubhai.net/posts/vidhyasagar-jeevendran_gendercontraints-womenempowerment-employability-activity-7059536935882522624-yBQl?utm_source=share&utm_medium=member_desktop

References:

https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/company/corporate-trends/small-companies-hire-more-men-to-avoid-maternity-burden/articleshow/68328281.cms