Personal Wellness

Working Mom Burnout: HR Strategies To Support & Retain Talent

Last Updated Nov 4, 2024

Time to read: 11 minutes

8 Ways to Combat Working Mom Burnout: Flexible Work Arrangements, Holistic Parental Leave Policies, Childcare Support, Wellness Programs, Mentorship & Networking, Workload Management, Regular Check-ins, Culture of Understanding

Moms make the world go round, but what happens when they try to maintain their high performance at work while raising a newborn child with no support from their employer? Working mom burnout.

Let’s face it, no one’s immune to burnout. Even top employees succumb to burnout, but nothing can compare to the pressure of being a mom. They say it takes a village to raise a child — and for good reason! Working moms have to stay on top of feeding, pumping, changing diapers, lunches, school drop offs, homework help, and more — all while staying on top of the latest reports and hopping on Zoom meetings. Even the highest performers may cave in without the support of their personal and professional villages.

So, what can you do to prevent working mom burnout? Actually, there’s quite a bit. HR leaders have tons of options for helping moms adapt to their new lifestyle while remaining engaged and productive members of the team. With the right strategies, you’ll be able to support your working moms so they can enjoy their motherhood without sacrificing their work performance.

Working Mom Burnout, Explained

Burnout isn’t just feeling tired after a long day — it’s a state of chronic physical, emotional, and mental exhaustion. While everyone can succumb to burnout, working moms are especially prone to it as they seek to balance work responsibilities with mom duties. Almost half of all mid- to high-income working moms experience burnout, according to a 2023 report by the University of Phoenix. This is higher than the average burnout rate of 40%, according to a Future Forum Pulse report, showing that moms are more likely than other employees to experience burnout at work.

So, why do moms experience burnout at a higher rate than their peers? It comes down to the cumulative effect of trying to meet often unrealistic expectations in both the professional and domestic spheres, all while navigating societal pressures. Working moms have to go above and beyond both at work and at home just to stay afloat, which contributes to this cumulative pressure. Some unique stressors for working moms are:

The invisible mental load: Working moms have a million things to consider, all the time. Remembering dentist appointments, sending the latest report to the client, planning meals, scheduling a one-on-one with management, organizing play dates … it’s like being the CEO of a chaotic household while trying to excel at work.
The childcare conundrum: Finding reliable, affordable child care is like searching for a unicorn. In fact, 80% of caregivers say that their responsibilities have impacted their work, according to a Harvard Business School report.
Societal expectations: Society expects moms to be nurturing caregivers and ambitious career women — simultaneously and flawlessly. These expectations add an extra layer of stress to an already hectic workday.
Work-life integration struggle: The boundaries between work and home are blurrier than ever, especially for remote workers. When your home office is also the playroom, it’s almost impossible to ever completely switch off.
Self-care? What’s that?: With so many balls in the air, personal time often falls to the bottom of the priority list. It can be difficult to see how you could squeeze in a workout or meditation session when you’re trying to exceed expectations at work and at home.
The guilt factor: Feeling guilty about work when you’re with your kids and guilty about your kids when you’re at work. It’s a lose-lose situation that 83% of working moms go through, according to a Northeastern University study.
Career progression pressure: Balancing career ambitions with family responsibilities can feel like trying to climb a ladder while carrying a toddler on your back. This added layer of stress is part of the reason why 38% of Gen Z and millennial moms feel burned out, according to a 2022 Motherly survey.

The High Company Cost of Working Mom Burnout

When your employees are burned out, everyone loses. Not only is this terrible for the employees' mental and physical health, but it’s also bad for your company’s bottom line. Here’s why having burned-out moms is quite costly:

Decreased Productivity

The cost of a burned-out workforce cannot be understated. Almost $2 trillion is lost in productivity every year due to disengaged employees, according to a 2023 Gallup survey. This decrease in productivity manifests in various ways, from difficulty concentrating and missed deadlines to a general decline in work quality.

Increased Absenteeism

Burnout is a leading cause of absenteeism in the workplace. In particular, emotionally exhausted workers are over 3 times more likely to miss work, according to a study published in Frontiers in Public Health. These unexpected absences disrupt workflow, increase pressure on team members, and can lead to missed opportunities and deadlines.

High Turnover Rates

Failure to adequately support your working moms could cost you their place in your organization. Just over 70% of working parents are considering altering their work schedule, changing jobs, or leaving their jobs, according to an SHRM survey. Losing one of your working moms will result in lost productivity, reduced morale, and the loss of institutional knowledge.

Reduced Innovation

Burnout has a significant impact on creativity and problem-solving abilities. Stressed employees are less likely to contribute ideas or take calculated risks, potentially missing out on opportunities. A culture of burnout can create a risk-averse company culture where maintaining the status quo becomes more important than innovating.

Increased Health Care Costs

Burnout takes a significant toll on both mental and physical health, leading to increased health care costs for companies. It’s estimated that burnout costs the health care system an average of $190 billion per year, according to a 2024 O.C. Tanner report. These costs will be passed along to companies through higher health care premiums, which will increase every employee’s total compensation package.

Disruption of Leadership Pipeline

Burnout among working moms can severely impact a company’s succession plan, which can create long-term strategic challenges and disruptions in your upper management gender ratio. Burned-out moms may opt out of career advancement opportunities or be overlooked for promotions, which can lead to a loss of diverse perspectives in leadership.

How To Recognize Burnout

Recognizing burnout isn’t as easy as it may sound. Although it might sound like a burned-out employee will be consistently collapsed on their desk, it’s not always that evident. Detecting burnout in working moms is like a mechanic listening to a car engine. Just as skilled mechanics can identify potential issues from subtle changes in engine sounds or performance, HR professionals and managers can develop a keen eye for the signs of burnout. Here are a few ways to identify burnout in your working moms:

Physical exhaustion: Look for signs of chronic fatigue like dark under-eye circles, constant yawning, and a coffee cup that never seems to be empty. Working moms often juggle sleepless nights with young kids or late-night homework sessions with their teenagers, only to be at their desks by 9. Then they tackle a second shift of family responsibilities back home, and do it all over again the next day.
The emotional rollercoaster: Watch for increased irritability, mood swings, or a persistent feeling of being stressed out. Burned-out employees might express a sense of failure or self-doubt, even in areas where they previously felt confident.
Cognitive difficulties: Pay attention to employees struggling with concentration, decision-making, or memory. A usually sharp employee who starts forgetting deadlines or has trouble focusing during meetings may be experiencing burnout.
Decreased work performance: Look for significant drops in productivity or quality of work. Missed deadlines, decreased work quality, or a general “meh” attitude towards once-loved projects are red flags waving for attention, even in your workaholics.
Work-life imbalance: Burned-out moms tend to struggle to separate work and home life, checking emails during family dinners or stressing about home tasks at work. Their inability to “switch off” from work can cause even more stress and further fuel burnout.
Withdrawal from social interactions: Just like kids playing hide-and-seek, burned-out employees might start hiding from work responsibilities. Look for signs of isolation or avoidance of social situations at work. An employee who used to be a team player but now rarely participates in meetings or office social events might be struggling with burnout. This withdrawal is often a coping mechanism to conserve energy.
Physical appearance challenges: Be aware of noticeable changes in physical appearance or personal grooming. Significant weight loss or gain, appearing constantly tired, or a decline in professional appearance can all be indicators of burnout. These changes often reflect the overall neglect of self-care that comes with burnout.
Negative attitude: Think of the most pessimistic character in your favorite sitcom. A usually upbeat employee who suddenly channels this energy might be battling burnout. Listen for increased complaints, cynicism, or a “why bother” attitude. Implementing ways to stay positive at work could help fight burnout.

HR Strategies To Support Working Mothers and Combat Burnout

Creating an effective support system for working mothers requires a multifaceted approach. It’s not as simple as offering child care support and calling it a day (though that's a great step!) — it takes addressing the root of the issue. Here are some key strategies you can implement to prevent working mom burnout:

Flexible Work Arrangements

Consider offering flexible working hours and remote work options to help mothers balance their professional and personal responsibilities. Maybe it’s compressed workweeks, job sharing, or the freedom to start early and finish in time for school pickup. The goal is to help moms juggle work and family without needing actual juggling skills.

Comprehensive Parental Leave Policies

It can be a good idea to explore offering generous parental leave policies, even beyond legal requirements. Extended, paid leave allows new parents to bond with their children and adjust to their new roles without financial stress.

Childcare Support

One option to address a significant stressor for working parents could be providing childcare solutions. This might include discounts at local child care centers, emergency child care services, or subsidies for regular care. Helping with this major stress point is like gifting your working moms a pair of ruby slippers — it makes everything easier.

Wellness Programs

Consider implementing wellness initiatives that focus on both physical and mental health. Supporting the psychological safety of employees can reduce burnout, according to research published in Health Care Management Review. This could be yoga classes, meditation rooms, mental health days at work, and access to counseling services.

Mentorship and Networking Opportunities

It could be helpful to connect working moms with mentors who’ve been there, done that, and got the “World’s Best Mom and Employee” T-shirt. These relationships can provide valuable guidance, support, and opportunities for career development. You could also create networking groups or events specifically for working parents to foster a sense of community and shared experience.

Workload Management

It's never a bad idea to review and adjust workloads to ensure they are realistic and manageable. Now might be a good time to trim some of the extra fat in your working moms’ schedules, like reducing meetings and routine tasks: Almost one-quarter of employees report spending too much time in meetings, according to a 2023 SHRM survey.

Regular Check-ins and Feedback

Regularly checking in with your employees, especially your working moms, is a great habit. You can use these conversations to identify potential burnout early on and address any issues proactively. Employees are more likely to feel burnout when they report toxic behavior at work, according to a 2022 McKinsey survey. A policy of open communication can help you identify toxic behavior before it escalates.

Culture of Understanding

Finally, don’t underestimate the power of your company culture. A company that normalizes and supports meeting the challenges of working parenthood can improve your working moms’ morale. This could mean training managers on empathy and flexibility, celebrating family milestones at work, and making sure company events and meetings are scheduled with consideration for employees with family responsibilities.

Prevent Working Mom Burnout with Employee Wellness Supports

Jobs can be stressful enough even before you add countless home responsibilities as a mother. Working moms experience unique challenges at every stage of parenthood, from sleepless nights with newborns to emotional support for teenagers. They're expected to excel at work while managing a complex home life. HR leaders can take a proactive approach to support their moms during these tricky times.

Showing that you care about your working moms will have a rippling effect. It will show every single employee that your organization is committed to employee wellbeing, which can foster a more engaged and productive workforce.

If you’re ready to discover the ROI of employee wellness programs, then talk to a Wellhub Wellbeing Specialist today. Our wellness subscription can improve the quality of life of your employees inside and outside work so you can improve your bottom line!

Company healthcare costs drop by up to 35% with Wellhub! (* Based on proprietary research comparing healthcare costs of active Wellhub users to non-users.) Talk to a Wellbeing Specialist to see how we can help reduce your healthcare spending!