Mommy Track refers to a situation in which a woman returns to work after childbirth, but is assigned to supportive duties or is otherwise removed from the career path. This is not only a source of concern for women who are eager to continue working after childbirth, but also a major disadvantage for companies, as it creates lost opportunities due to the inability to assign excellent human resources to the right places at the right time.
Problems with Mommy Tracks
What are some of the problems caused by Mommy Tracks? Understanding more specifically the problems associated with Mommy Track will facilitate understanding of its causes and how to control it. Let’s use this as a hint to understand the problems that actually occur and how to take countermeasures.
Out of the fast track to success
Mommy Track occurs when you cannot work the same way you used to due to childcare or other reasons. This is a case where a person wants to work the same way as before, but is forced off the career track due to restrictions such as not being able to work overtime or business trip. This is a problem where a person’s career path changes regardless of his or her own will.
Lower evaluations and salaries
Japan still has a culture of strong time evaluation, despite environmental changes. In some cases, it is determined that important projects cannot be entrusted to those who have shorter or more limited hours than other employees. In these cases, it may be difficult to obtain opportunities for promotion or advancement by being assigned simple tasks. In addition, If the salary is based on the number of hours worked, then working fewer hours could result in a lower salary.
Decrease in motivation occurs
Lack of opportunities for promotion and advancement and lower salaries are major causes of low motivation. In addition, shortened working hours can cause a combination of guilt and other factors that can be a major stressor, further reducing motivation. If employees cannot produce better results than their colleagues or communicate effectively within the company, it can contribute to a decline in motivation and hinder productivity in the workplace.
Increased turnover
Lack of opportunities for promotions and advancement, lower salaries, and reduced motivation are factors that ultimately increase turnover. It is a significant loss for any company to lose a talented person who can work as hard as he or she used to in a few years’ time. To prevent this from happening, it is the company’s responsibility to take good care of its employees before they leave.
Causes of Mommy Tracks
What are some of the causes of Mommy Track? Knowing the causes is always necessary in order to take countermeasures. Let’s understand the causes and make use of them to develop countermeasures.
Shorter working hours
The most common cause is shorter work hours due to child drop-offs and pick-ups, sudden illnesses, etc. Shorter working hours can make it harder to finish tasks and decrease productivity. This can lead to a lower evaluation when compared to other employees, or a lower salary, causing a Mommy Track.
Lack of understanding in the workplace
Lack of understanding in the workplace can also cause Mommy Tracks. Women suffering from Mommy Tracks want to “balance childcare, work, and career advancement. However, this may be due to assumptions or statements that childcare should be a priority, actions that encourage employees to leave early, assigning them to jobs that do not bother them to take care of children suddenly, or other corporate or departmental responses. A company has a responsibility to adopt a system that does not inconvenience its customers, so it cannot give priority only to the wishes of its employees. However, it is also necessary to build a rewarding work environment for female staff members, who are excellent human resources.
Inadequate environment
When taking care of children, there will be times when sudden illness or injury forces a change in schedule. In such cases, repeated absences from work or early departures from work can affect personnel evaluations. If an environment that allows diverse work styles, such as remote work, is not in place, it can cause Mommy Tracks. Balancing work and childcare can be challenging, especially when there is a lack of family support and facilities for sick children. It is important to avoid falling into ‘Mommy Track.’ Therefore, there is an urgent need to improve the environment.
Lack of day care centers
The issue of children on waiting lists for day care centers is one that we see in the daily news. Lack of day care centers is a major problem when raising children. When care of sick children and extended daycare are not available, workers are forced to work shorter hours. The resulting shorter working hours and reduced throughput lead to lower evaluations of female staff.
